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Effects of Chronic Alcohol Consumption and Iron Deficiency on Maternal Folate Status and Reproductive Outcome in Mice^1,2,3,

Nefisa El Banna⁴, Mary Frances Picciano^* and Joseph Simon

^* Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Illinois, 905 South Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801 Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801

The influence of chronic alcohol consumption with or without iron deficiency on reproductive performance and folate status was studied. Female CBA/J mice were fed isocaloric liquid diets prior to and during pregnancy. A 2 x 2 factorial design was employed with ethanol-derived calories (EDC) and iron (Fe) as dietary variables. Groups received 0% EDC and 30 ppm Fe (CA); 0% EDC and 2 ppm Fe (CD); 20% EDC and 30 ppm Fe (EA); and 20% EDC and 2 ppm Fe (ED). Animals were killed on day 18 of gestation. Mean body weights were reduced in CD, EA and ED groups, while daily caloric intakes reduced only in CD and ED groups. Maternal values for hemoglobin, transferrin saturation and red cell folates decreased with iron deficiency and/or 20% EDC; hematocrit, serum iron and serum folates decreased only with iron deficiency. Blood ethanol levels were similar in EA and ED groups. Maternal liver total lipids and alcohol dehydrogenase activity increased only with 20% EDC, while dihydrofolate reductase activity decreased with iron deficiency and/or 20% EDC. Iron deficiency and/or 20% EDC adversely affected gestational performances in mice as indicated by increased resorptions and decreased percentages of live fetuses/litters and live fetal weights. Data indicate that iron deficiency and/or chronic ethanol consumption induce adverse effects on maternal reproductive performance of CBA/J mice possibly via alteration of folate metabolism.

KEY WORDS: • ethanol • iron • folate • pregnant mice

¹ Supported by The Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station Project #338.

² Presented in part at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, 1981, Atlanta, GA. El Banna, N. and Picciano, M. F. (1981) Biochemioal and morphological effects of chronic alcohol consumption and iron deficiency during pregnancy in mice, Fed. Proc. 40.

³ Taken in part from a thesis submitted by N. El Banna to the Graduate College, University of Illinois, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

⁴ Presently, Assistant Professor of Nutrition, Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Economics, Helwan University, Bolak Abu-El Ela, Cairo, Egypt.

Manuscript received 20 June 1983.