The effects of lifelong alcohol consumption on calcium regulating and sex hormones

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.