title: Ascorbic acid chronic alcohol consumption in the guinea pig.
abstract: Protection against the toxic effects of chronic alcohol consumption was observed in male guinea pigs maintained on a high-ascorbic-acid diet (vitamin C-deficient chow plus 2.0 mg ascorbic acid/ml drinking water) as compared to animals on a low-ascorbic-acid diet (vitamin C-deficient chow and from 0.025 to 0.050 mg ascorbic acid/ml drinking water). Alcohol was orally administered to the guinea pigs at a dose of 2.5 g/kg for up to 14 weeks. Levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and serum alanine aminotransferase were significantly elevated in animals on the low-ascorbic-acid diet that received alcohol, 120 and 250%, respectively. In contrast, in animals on the high-ascorbic-acid diet that received alcohol, levels of alanine aminotransferase were not significantly elevated and levels of aspartate aminotransferase were elevated 50%. In addition, some of the animals on the low-ascorbic-acid diet that received alcohol for 12 to 14 weeks developed hepatic steatosis and necrosis, whereas none of the animals on the high-ascorbic-acid diet that received alcohol for the same length of time manifested these changes.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications*; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D010105:Oxygenases; C020066:dimethylaniline monooxygenase (N-oxide forming); D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid