Recreational alcohol use induces changes in the concentrations of choline-containing compounds and total creatine in the brain: a 1H MRS study of healthy subjects

Tunc-Skarka, Nuran; Weber‐Fahr, Wolfgang

doi:10.1007/s10334-015-0486-3

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Several previous studies have reported that greater alcohol consumption predicts higher Cho during abstinence in both light and heavy drinkers (Ende et al, 2006;Yeo et al, 2013;Tunc-Skarka et al, 2015) and in animal models of binge or chronic alcohol (Zahr et al, 2009(Zahr et al, , 2010. The current study offers the first experimental evidence that an alcohol-related increase in Cho in healthy humans may begin as early as the descending limb of alcohol intoxication.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Individuals in early abstinence from chronic heavy drinking showed low Cho concentrations in frontal white matter that increased with 1-3 months of abstinence (Ende et al, 2005;Durazzo et al, 2006). On the other hand, in observational studies of moderate and non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers, Cho in frontal white matter correlated positively with recent amount of alcohol consumption (Ende et al, 2006(Ende et al, , 2013Tunc-Skarka et al, 2015). Moreover, in heavy drinkers, an episodic binge pattern was positively associated with Cho in the thalamus (Zahr et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cerebral Metabolites on the Descending Limb of Acute Alcohol: A Preliminary 1H MRS Study

Monnig

Woods

Walsh

et al. 2019

Alcohol and Alcoholism

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cerebral Metabolites on the Descending Limb of Acute Alcohol: A Preliminary 1H MRS Study

Monnig

Woods

Walsh

et al. 2019

Alcohol and Alcoholism

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“…Of technical importance, the majority of the previously mentioned MRS studies used creatine concentration as an external reference for glutamate concentration. However, this is likely to be problematic as the stability of creatine concentration in alcohol use disorders and recreational use is questionable (Mon et al 2012; Tunc-Skarka et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Signatures of alcohol use in the structure and neurochemistry of insular cortex: a correlational study

et al. 2019

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Rationale Insular cortex supports the representation of motivational feelings through the integration of interoceptive information concerning bodily physiology. Compromised insular integrity is implicated in alcohol and drug use disorders. Alcohol-associated insular dysfunction may arise through aberrant glutamatergic neurotransmission associated with selective neuronal death and atrophy. Objective In a sample of alcohol users, we combined magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) with voxel and surface-based morphometry (VBM, SBM) to test the hypothesis that the neurochemical and structural properties of the insula relate to alcohol use. Methods Twenty-three healthy individuals were characterized by measures of alcohol use and subjective craving. Right mid-insula glutamate/glutamine (Glx) and total N-acetylaspartate/N-acetyl-aspartylglutamate (TNAA) concentrations were measured using MRS. Right insular structure was quantified using VBM and SBM parameters. We tested for predictive associations between these neuroimaging and behavioral/psychometric measures using Bayesian statistics. Results Reduced insular Glx concentration was associated with increased alcohol compulsions and, to a lesser extent, with greater alcohol use severity. Anecdotal evidence for a negative relationship between alcohol use severity and levels of insular gyrification was also observed. Conclusions This study is, to date, the first characterization of the neurochemical and morphological integrity of insular cortex in alcohol users. Our data seem to reveal a negative relationship between alcohol use and the neurochemical and structural integrity of the insula, a critical substrate for motivational behavior. These neurobiological characteristics might contribute to loss of control toward compulsive drinking with prolonged and excessive alcohol use. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00213-019-05228-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…However, many women fail to consume the recommended levels in their diet (Zeisel, ). Choline deficiency is compounded by alcohol exposure, with choline levels recently shown to be reduced in the brain in otherwise healthy women (Tunc‐Skarka et al., ). Thus, the combination of the high demand and reduced concentrations of choline during prenatal alcohol exposure can result in impairments in brain development and function (Zeisel, ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Choline Supplementation on Neurological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Outcomes in Offspring Arising from Alcohol Exposure During Development: A Quantitative Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies

Akison

Kuo

Reid

et al. 2018

Alcoholism Clin & Exp Res

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Prenatal alcohol exposure results in cognitive, behavioral, and neurological deficits in offspring. There is an urgent need for safe and effective treatments to overcome these effects. Maternal choline supplementation has been identified as a potential intervention. Our objective was to review preclinical and clinical studies using choline supplementation in known cases of fetal alcohol exposure to determine its effectiveness in ameliorating deficits in offspring. A systematic search of 6 electronic databases was conducted and studies selected by reviewing titles/abstracts against specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Study characteristics, population demographics, alcohol exposure, and intervention methods were tabulated, and quality of reporting was assessed. Data on cognitive, behavioral, and neurological outcomes were extracted and tabulated. Quantitative analysis was performed to determine treatment effects for individual study outcomes. A total of 189 studies were retrieved following duplicate removal. Of these, 22 studies (2 randomized controlled trials, 2 prospective cohort studies, and 18 preclinical studies) met the full inclusion/exclusion criteria. Choline interventions were administered at different times relative to alcohol exposure, impacting on their success to prevent deficits for specific outcomes. Only 1 clinical study showed significant improvements in information processing in 6-month-old infants from mothers treated with choline during pregnancy. Preclinical studies showed significant amelioration of deficits due to prenatal alcohol exposure across a wide variety of outcomes, including epigenetic/molecular changes, gross motor, memory, and executive function. This review suggests that choline supplementation has the potential to ameliorate specific behavioral, neurological, and cognitive deficits in offspring caused by fetal alcohol exposure, at least in preclinical studies. As only 1 clinical study has shown benefit, we recommend more clinical trials be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of choline in preventing deficits across a wider range of cognitive domains in children.

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Recreational alcohol use induces changes in the concentrations of choline-containing compounds and total creatine in the brain: a 1H MRS study of healthy subjects

Abstract: This study shows that even social alcohol consumption affects the concentrations of tCho and tCr in cerebral white matter. Future studies assessing brain tCho and tCr levels should control for the confounding factor alcohol consumption.

Cited by 14 publications

References 57 publications

Cerebral Metabolites on the Descending Limb of Acute Alcohol: A Preliminary 1H MRS Study

Cerebral Metabolites on the Descending Limb of Acute Alcohol: A Preliminary 1H MRS Study

Signatures of alcohol use in the structure and neurochemistry of insular cortex: a correlational study

Effect of Choline Supplementation on Neurological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Outcomes in Offspring Arising from Alcohol Exposure During Development: A Quantitative Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies

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