Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of alcohol on hormones that possibly affect bone health. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three diet groups. Alcohol-treated animals were fed a modified Lieber-Decarli diet ad libitum containing 35% ethanol-derived calories, while the pair-fed animals received an isocaloric liquid diet in which maltose-dextrin replaced ethanol-derived calories. Chow animals were fed a standard rat chow ad libitum. Terminal serum was assayed for calcium, PTH, calcitonin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, IGF-1, testosterone, and estradiol. Creatinine, SGOT, and SGPT were also tested to determine kidney and liver functions. The result of these tests tended toward a higher level of PTH in alcohol and pair-fed pups, a decrease in 25-hydroxyvitamin D with time and reduced values in pair-fed animals, and an increase in calcitonin with time, but with no significant differences among the diet groups. Total IGF-1 values were greater in younger animals and were initially lower in alcohol-fed animals. Estradiol and testosterone tended to increase with age, but not at a level that was statistically significant. There were also no significant differences relative to diet. The kidney and liver-function tests results were normal except that the liver values were significantly greater in the alcohol-fed animals.
Booe, Holli Laine (1999). The effects of lifelong alcohol consumption on calcium regulating and sex hormones. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1999 -THESIS -B64.