Effects of ethanol administration on mineral contents in tissues of iron-deficient rats

Wistar-strain female rats (about 40g b. w.) were fed a normal or iron-deficient diet for 8 weeks, and 10% ethanol (v/v) was simultaneously given as drinking water for the last 4 weeks. The iron-deficient diet decreased the Fe levels in serum and all tissues studied. The ethanol treatment lowered, regardless of iron deficiency, the serum Cu and hepatic Zn, Mg and P levels. The ingestion of ethanol under iron deficiency resulted in a decrease in the serum Ca and Mg, pulmonary and hepatic Fe, and renal Se levels, and an increase in the splenic Mg and cerebral Ca contents. These observations suggest thar chronic alcohol ingestion could accelerate the harmful effects of iron deficiency anemina through the further reduction of the decreased Fe contents in pulmonary and hepatic tissues.