Dietary selenium plus folic acid as an antioxidant therapy for ethanol-exposed pups.
BACKGROUND
Nutrients such as folic acid and selenium are decreased in dams exposed to ethanol during gestation and lactation, affecting their metabolism, antioxidant balance, and the future health of their progeny. We will study whether the supplementation of the maternal diet with folate and selenium can prevent ethanol-induced oxidative liver disorders in the offspring.


METHODS
Dams were randomised into four groups: control, alcohol, alcohol+folic acid+Se, and control+folic acid+Se. We determined selenium by graphite-furnace atomic absorption and antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl by spectrophotometry in the offspring.


RESULTS
Alcohol increased serum Se levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. However, in the liver of pups from ethanol-exposed dams a decrease in selenium was provoked and GPx activity increased with the double supplementation. Glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) activities increased with ethanol, while double supplementation significantly decreased the GR activity. The supplemented diet reduced the protein peroxidation found in ethanol pups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that folic acid+Se could be effective in neutralising the damage of ethanol consumption in pups since it prevents peroxidation protein products.
Ojeda
M L
ML
Department of Physiology and Zoology, Seville University, Spain.
Nogales
F
F
Jotty
K
K
Barrero
M J
MJ
Murillo
M L
ML
Carreras
O
O
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000975:Antioxidants; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000431:Ethanol; D005492:Folic Acid; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium