Can calories from ethanol contribute to body weight preservation by malnourished rats?

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research 2004-06, Vol.37 (6), p.841-846
• Main Authors: Aguiar, A S, Da-Silva, V A, Boaventura, G T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; BIOLOGY; Body Weight - drug effects; Energy Intake; Ethanol; Ethanol - administration & dosage; Ethanol - metabolism; Female; Malnutrition; Malnutrition - metabolism; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Toxicity; Weight gain; Weight Loss - physiology
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 0100-879X; 1414-431X
• DOI: 10.1590/s0100-879x2004000600009

Our objective was to compare the use of calories from ethanol by well-nourished and malnourished rats in terms of body weight. Female Wistar rats weighing 170-180 g at the beginning of the study were used. The animals were divided into two groups (N = 12 each): group W received water ad libitum and group E an ethanol solution ad libitum as the only source of liquid throughout the experiment. The concentration of ethanol was increased weekly from 0 to 5, 10, 20 and 40% (v/v). In the well-nourished phase (A), all rats received food ad libitum (AW and AE). Ethanol treatment (AE) was then interrupted and water was offered to both groups. After 2 weeks both AW and AE rats were submitted to food restriction (50% of group AW food consumption), thus initiating the malnutrition phase (M). Liquid was offered as described before to the same W (MW) and E (ME) groups. The weight gain during the 1-week treatment of AE rats was similar to that of AW animals only when AE rats received the 5% (v/v) ethanol solution (9.16 vs 10.47 g). Weight loss was observed after exposure to 10% ethanol (P < 0.05) in spite of maintenance of caloric intake. Malnourished rats presented weight loss, which was attenuated by ethanol intake up to the 20% (v/v) solution and was related to an increased caloric offer. This effect was not observed with the 40% ethanol solution (-9.98 g). These data suggest that calories from ethanol were used to maintain body weight up to the concentration of 10% (v/v) (well-nourished) and 20% (v/v) (malnourished) and that ethanol has a toxic profile which depends on nutritional status.