Reversibility of the alterations induced by chronic alcoholism and malnutrition in rats after alcohol withdrawal and proper nutrition.
OBJECTIVE
The specific influence of malnutrition on the cellular damage induced by alcoholism has been poorly defined; therefore, the possible degree of improvement that could be obtained after the institution of proper nutrition and after alcohol withdrawal remains unclear. We studied both conditions in several combinations, either after chronic alcoholism, chronic malnutrition or both, and after reversal of each condition or of both.


METHODS
Using experimental models of alcoholism and malnutrition, we studied the alterations induced by each condition and on the combination of both in five histological locations and in 10 hematological and biochemical parameters; afterwards, we studied the possible restorative effect on each parameter after 4 months of alcohol withdrawal or proper nutrition or both.


RESULTS
Our results showed that chronic alcoholism induced a mean of 31% deviation from values obtained in controls, malnutrition induced 17%, and alcoholism and malnutrition combined induced 52%. Upon the removal of the offending condition, alcohol withdrawal brought 13% improvement and proper nutrition 5% improvement; in the animals with alcoholism and malnutrition, alcohol withdrawal and proper nutrition brought 26% improvement, alcohol withdrawal but continuation of malnutrition 10% improvement, and continuation of alcoholism but proper nutrition led to a further 8% worsening from the alterations already found during alcoholism and malnutrition.


CONCLUSIONS
Multivariate statistical comparisons demonstrated that chronic malnutrition produced an important, independent and difficult to reverse effect on the damage induced by alcoholism in several histological and physiological parameters.
Palencia
G
G
Research Division, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
Teixeira
F
F
Ortiz
A
A
Perez
R
R
Sotelo
J
J
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D051381:Rats; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors
D000431:Ethanol