25-hydroxyvitamin-d-2 and Alcoholism

To evaluate the effect of abstinence on bone mass and bone mineral metabolism in chronic alcoholics, a 2 year longitudinal follow-up study was carried out in a group of 30 chronic alcoholic males who started a rehabilitation program. Lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) and serum levels of osteocalcin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured at entry and after 1 and 2 years in all patients. Circulating cortisol and parathyroid hormone were measured in 14 and 6 patients, respectively, at entry and every year. Testosterone was measured in 18 patients at entry and after 1 year. At entry, lumbar BMD was significantly lower in alcoholics (1.06 +/- 0.03 g/cm2) than in age-matched healthy men (1.22 +/- 0.03 g/cm2; p < 0.001). Circulating osteocalcin and vitamin D levels were also significantly lower in alcoholics than in controls. Lumbar and femoral neck BMD increased in alcoholics after 2 years of abstinence (lumbar BMD, mean +/- SEM, 1.06 +/- 0.03 to 1.10 +/- 0.04 g/cm2, p < 0.05; femoral BMD, 0.82 +/- 0.02 to 0.84 +/- 0.02 g/cm2; p < 0.02). Moreover, lumbar BMD increased in alcoholics (2.9 +/- 1.4%) and decreased in controls (-1.1 +/- 0.2%; p < 0.02). Femoral BMD also increased in alcoholics (2.8 +/- 1.0%) but the expected mean decrease of -0.92% was found in healthy age-matched males. Baseline low osteocalcin levels (5.1 +/- 0.6 ng/ml) increased after 1 year (8.6 +/- 0.5 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and 2 years of abstinence (9.5 +/- 0.7 ng/ml, p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; Absorptiometry, Photon; Adult; Alcoholism; Biomarkers; Bone Density; Femur Neck; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Immunoradiometric Assay; Linear Models; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic; Longitudinal Studies; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Middle Aged; Osteocalcin; Parathyroid Hormone; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; White People

1. A group of 129 patients with chronic alcoholism were assessed for their nutritional status with respect to certain minerals and vitamins, and compared with control subjects. 2. In all subjects the plasma values were normal for calcium, magnesium and zinc. 3. As in other studies a seasonal variation was found in the plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the control subjects and the alcoholic subjects; in all seasons lower levels were found in the alcoholics than in the controls, but none of the alcoholic patients had results in the range found in osteomalacia. 4. The alcoholic subjects had low levels of ascorbic acid both in the plasma and in the leucocytes. 5. Although vitamin A and beta-carotene levels were within the reference range, the results in alcoholics were found to be lower than in the control subjects. 6. We suggest that subclinical vitamin deficiencies other than thiamine deficiency contribute to the cerebral impairment frequently found in alcoholism.

Topics: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; Adult; Aged; Alcohol Amnestic Disorder; Alcoholism; Ascorbic Acid; Avitaminosis; Calcium; Carotenoids; Female; Humans; Hydroxycholecalciferols; Leukocyte Count; Magnesium; Male; Middle Aged; Seasons; Zinc