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

Abstract

Our objective was to compare the use of calories from ethanol by wellnourished 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.

Ethanol in low chronic dose level attenuates major organic effects in malnourished rats

“…Ethanol at 5%v/v in drinking solution was beneficial to malnourished rats in all parameters evaluated in this study (body weight, biochemical parameters and liver histopathology). This is in accordance with Aguiar et al (2004), who reported that malnourished rats utilized ethanol calories for body weight maintenance up to ethanol concentrations in drinking water at 20%v/v. Malnutrition significantly increased ethanol consumption in g/kg body weight.…”

“…Aguiar et al (2004) evaluated the threshold dose in which ethanol would be useful as an energy source to malnourished rats. Ethanol solutions at 5, 10 and 20% v/v decreased body weight loss in malnourished rats and did not change biochemical parameters (hematocrit, hemoglobin, total protein and albumin).…”

Alcohol: Effects on Nutritional Status, Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure

“…Animal studies show that the consumption of low to moderate doses of alcohol (up to 20% of total caloric intake) causes weight gain in malnourished rats, which suggests an effective utilization of alcohol energetic content. Eutrophic rats, however, lose weight when the energetic content of alcohol represents 10% or more of the total calorie intake [21,22].…”

Relação entre consumo de bebidas alcoólicas por universitárias e adiposidade corporal

“…O etanol fornece calorias em seu metabolismo (7,1 kcal/g), sendo uma fonte energética intermediária em relação às proteínas e aos carboidratos, que fornecem 4,0 kcal/g, e aos lipídios, que fornecem 9,0 kcal/g. O aproveitamento orgânico da energia fornecida pelas bebidas alcoólicas dependerá do estado nutricional, da frequência e do modo de consumo, podendo levar ao sobrepeso e à obesidade, em consumidores moderados, e à desnutrição entre os usuários crônicos 8,20,21 .…”

“…Por ser fonte de calorias desprovidas de vitaminas e minerais, o consumo crônico de etanol causa desnutrição específica, além de promover a diminuição do consumo de alimentos e prejudicar a absorção dos nutrientes 7 . Entretanto, estudos com animais indicam que o consumo de doses baixas a moderadas de álcool promovem o ganho de peso de ratos desnutridos, sugerindo o aproveitamento de sua energia 8,9 .…”