Folic acid and selenite during reproduction, gestation and lactation protect against ethanol changed Se bioavailability.
OBJECTIVE
Levels of antioxidants such as folic acid and selenium decrease in dams exposed to ethanol during gestation and lactation, affecting their antioxidant status, their reproductive function and consequently the health of their progeny. We will study whether a Se (0.5 p.p.m.) plus folic acid (8 p.p.m.) supplemented diet administered to ethanol-exposed dams and male rats prevents the effects provoked by ethanol in Se bioavailability and in their glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, thus improving the health of their offspring.


METHODS
Se levels in tissue were measured by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and serum GPx activity by spectrophotometry.


RESULTS
Results show that ethanol decreases Se retention in dams, affecting their tissues' Se deposits, decreasing serum GPx activity, gestational parameters and the weight of their progeny.


CONCLUSIONS
Se plus folic acid balance Se bioavailability, something that is especially important during gestation and lactation, and as a direct result, the health of their progeny is improved.
Department of Physiology and Zoology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Seville University, C/ Profesor García González s/n° 2, Seville, Spain. olimpia@us.es
María L
ML
Ojeda
Fátima
F
Nogales
Karick
K
Jotty
María J
MJ
Delgado
María M
MM
Guerrero-León
María L
ML
Murillo
Olimpia
O
Carreras
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001682:Biological Availability; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
D000431:Ethanol; D005492:Folic Acid; D012643:Selenium; D018038:Sodium Selenite