CHRONIC CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE BONE OF YOUNG RATS

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the longitudinal growth of the tibia and bone quality parameters in young rats under an experimental setup. METHODS: The control (n=10) rats received only water. The ethanol (n=10) rats received ethyl alcohol at concentrations established in the protocol for the induction of chronic alcohol consumption. The blood samples were immediately collected via cardiac puncture and processed to evaluate the levels of alkaline phosphatase by automated spectrophotometry. Following blood sample collection, both tibias were dissected, and weighed; the tibial length was measured., and the samples were stored in a freezer for future analysis of the bone mineral content and mechanical resistance, known as maximal load and stiffness. RESULTS: Compromised bone health, with a 35.3% decrease in the serum alkaline phosphatase levels (p