2012年中国20~79岁男性饮酒现状分析

目的 了解我国20～79岁不同地区、年龄、文化程度和吸烟情况的男性人群的饮酒行为。方法 2010－2012年中国居民营养与健康状况监测采用多阶段分层与人口成比例的整群随机抽样方法,在全国150个监测点开展抽样调查,每个监测点调查人数不少于1 000人。个人饮酒行为信息来源于“个人健康情况调查问卷”,由统一培训的调查员面对面询问获得。结果 60 791名20～79岁男性纳入分析,其饮酒率为57.8%（农村为58.3%,城市为57.3%）,饮酒者日均酒精摄入量为32.7 g（农村为33.3 g,城市为32.1 g）。我国50～59岁年龄组男性几乎每天饮酒的构成比和平均每日酒精摄入量在各年龄组中最高。随着文化程度的提高,平均每日酒精摄入量、几乎每天饮酒的构成比和过量饮酒率明显下降。不吸烟人群的饮酒率、平均每日酒精摄入量、几乎每天饮酒的构成比和过量饮酒率均低于曾经吸烟和现在吸烟人群。结论 我国20～79岁男性饮酒行为较普遍,城乡差别较小,但平均每日来源于不同酒类的酒精摄入量在不同特征人群中存在一定差异,不同年龄、文化程度和吸烟情况的男性人群过量饮酒率存在较大差异。     

PREVALENCE OF ALCOHOL PROBLEMS IN GENERAL PRACTICE: AN EXPERIENCE FROM SOUTHERN ITALY

The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and the responseto a question about heavy alcohol consumption were used to assessthe prevalence of alcohol problems in consecutive patients (77males and 46 females) consulting a general practitioner in anurban area in the South of Italy (Castellammare di Stabia).Alcohol problems, which were defined by a cut-off score of 5on the MAST and/or by heavy alcohol consumption (correspondingto at least 60 g of ethanol daily for males and 36 g of ethanoldaily for females for at least 2 years), were identified in54 patients [43.9%: 95% confidence interval (CI) 35.0–53.1%].45 males (58.4%. 95% Cl 46.6–69.6%) and nine females (19.6%.95% CI 9.4–33.9%). The prevalence of MAST positive patientswas 32.5% (95% CI 24. 4–41.6%) in the total patient sample.45.5% (95% CI 34.1–57.2%) among males and 10.9% (95% CI3.6–23.6%) among females. The question about heavy alcoholconsumption had a predictive negative value of 97.2% (95% CI90.2–99.7%) and a predictive positive value of 73.1 %(95% CI 59.0–84.4%) in relation to MAST positive patients.It is suggested that general practitioners should incorporatethis question about heavy alcohol consumption as a screeningquestion in order to detect alcohol problems and give adviceregarding reduction of alcohol consumption.     

Alcohol consumption and heavy drinking: a survey in three Italian villages

Aims: We investigated drinking habits, and heavy and problemdrinking prevalence in a sample of individuals attending theconsulting rooms of local General Practitioners in three Italianvillages. Methods: The samples were selected to be representativeof the entire population of the three villages. Informationon alcohol-drinking patterns was collected using a questionnairethat included a masked form of the CAGE rating scale. Accordingto the frequency of alcohol intake, subjects were grouped inthree categories: abstainers, occasional drinkers, and dailydrinkers. In agreement with WHO guidelines, 40 g/day for malesand 20 g/day for females were taken as cut-off for ‘heavydrinking’ and consumptions of >80 g/day for males and40 g/day for females were used to define ‘problem drinking’.Results: A total of 2972 individuals were included in the survey(19% of the population). Of these, 44% were abstinent, 20% occasionaldrinkers, and 36% daily drinkers. Daily drinking was found tobe more common in males than in females but heavy drinking wassignificantly higher in females compared with males (P 0.0001).The problem drinkers were 12% of the entire population and theCAGE-positive subjects (2 positive answers) were 3.5%. Conclusions:Our data indicate that alcohol drinking is widely diffused inthe three communities. A large layer of the population drinksabove the WHO-established cut-off. The incidence of heavy andproblem drinking seems to have significant gender and regionaldifferences that are important to consider when planning effectiveprevention programmes.     

Serum nutritional status of tocopherol and retinol normalized to lipids of persons living in the southern rural Terai region in Nepal

Objective  The present study examined the levels of serum α-Tocopherol (Toc), retinol (Ret), cholesterol (Chol) and triglycerides (TG), and their correlations in the sera of people in Nepal. Methods  The survey was conducted on the general populace in the agricultural Terai region in southern Nepal. The study population consisted of 93 males and 83 females aged 10–68 years. Serum Toc and Ret were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results  No significant differences were observed between the genders for the average of total Chol (T-Chol) (140 and 145 mg/100 ml, respectively), HDL-C (45 and 47 mg/100 ml), LDL-C (94 and 97 mg/100 ml), and TG (106 and 110 mg/100 ml), and the ratio of LDL/HDL (2.16). The levels of mean Toc (4.32 and 4.27 μg/ml) were about the same for both genders, while the mean Ret levels were significantly higher for males (624 ng/ml) than for females (535 ng/ml) (p<0.001). A direct relationship was found between the levels of Toc and Ret (r=0.46, p<0.001 and r=0.28, p<0.05 for males and females, respectively). Serum levels of Toc and Ret were positively related to the levels of Chol (r=0.48 and r=0.58, p<0.001 for males and r=0.49, p<0.01 and r-0.28, p<0.05 for females, respectively). The ratio of Toc/TG normalized to serum TG was directly correlated to the ratio of Ret/TG (r=0.79 for males, and r=0.72 for females, p<0.001, respectively) and the ratios of Toc/TG and Ret/TG were negatively related to the LDL/HDL levels (r=−0.49 and r=−0.43, for males, and r=−0.46 and r=−0.57 for females, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion  The levels of Toc and Ret were low in the sera of people living in the southern rural Terai region in Nepal, and it was found that lower levels of Toc and Ret normalized to TG increased the ratio of LDL/HDL. These results suggest that greater intake of foods rich in Toc and Ret should be encouraged to reduce the erisk of coronary heart disease.     

Serum mineral levels among Nepalese living in the southern agricultural Terai region

The physical status and serum mineral concentrations for people aged 10 to 68 years living in an agricultural southern region of Nepal were determined. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) for both sexes in the 10–14 year age group were low (p<0.05. vs the other age groups) and those for the over 50-year-olds tended to be higher than the other age groups. The mean values of total proteins (TP) (8.6 ± 0.5 g/dl for males and 8.7 ± 0.6 g/dl for females) were high due to an increase of globulin (3.9 ± 0.4 g/dl for males and 4.1 ± 0.5 g/dl for females). More than three-fourths of the subjects of both sexes showed calcium (Ca) levels of 9.0–11.2 mg/dl and about 65% of them showed potassium (K) levels of 4.8–5.4 mEq/1. A significant positive correlation between DBP and serum K was observed (p<0.05). Serum inorganic phosphorus (IP) correlated with age (p<0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (p<0.001). The serum Ca levels correlated with TP (r=0.31, p<0.001), albumin (Alb) (r=0.50, p<0.001), IP (r=0.31, p<0.001), K (r=0.32, p<0.001) and chlorine (Cl)(r=-0.37, p<0.001). Cl was associated with TP (r=-0.21, p<0.05), Alb (r=-0.36, p<0.001) and IP (r=-0.21, p<0.05). These results suggested that Ca intake for the subjects seemed to be insufficient although their serum Ca level was within normal.     

AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN THE EFFECTS OF ETHANOL ON PERFORMANCE AND BEHAVIOUR IN HEALTHY MEN

Four age groups of healthy men; 20–29, 30–39, 40–49,and 50–59 years (N = 12 per group), drank 0.68 g of ethanol/kgbody weight as neat whisky in the morning after an overnight(10 hr) fast. The concentration of ethanol in fingertip blood,various signs and symptoms of intoxication, body-sway (openand closed eyes), hand-tremor, positional alcohol nystagmus(PAN) and roving ocular movements (ROM) were measured at 30–60min intervals after drinking. Body-sway and hand-tremor increasedwith advancing age in tests made before the ingestion of alcohol(P < 0.05). After drinking alcohol, body-sway and hand-tremorincreased in the four age groups (P < 0.05), being most pronouncedat or near the time of reaching the peak blood alcohol concentration(BAC). The initial impairment subsided when the post-absorptivephase of ethanol kinetics commenced. At 60 min post-drinking,body-sway was most pronounced in men aged 40–49 yearswhen their eyes were closed (P < 0.05). Otheiwise, age-relateddifferences in alcohol impairment in the other age groups werenot statistically significant. Positional alcohol nystagmus(PAN) developed mainly during the acute phase of intoxication,decreasing in intensity as the time after drinking progressed.Roving ocular movements (ROM) were most apparent during thepost-absorptive phase (120–420 min). We conclude thatthe acute effects of a moderate dose of ethanol on sensory andmotor functions are not much different in men aged between 20and 59 years.     

Diurnal Triglyceridemia in Relation to Alcohol Intake in Men

Fasting and postprandial triglyceride concentrations largely depend on dietary and lifestyle factors. Alcohol intake is associated with triglycerides, but the effect of alcohol on diurnal triglyceridemia in a free living situation is unknown. During three days, 139 men (range: 18–80 years) measured their own capillary triglyceride (cTG) concentrations daily on six fixed time-points before and after meals, and the total daily alcohol intake was recorded. The impact of daily alcohol intake (none; low, <10 g/day; moderate, 10–30 g/day; high, >30 g/day) on diurnal triglyceridemia was analyzed by the incremental area under the cTG curve (∆cTG-AUC) reflecting the mean of the six different time-points. Fasting cTG were similar between the alcohol groups, but a trend of increased cTG was observed in men with moderate and high alcohol intake after dinner and at bedtime (p for trend <0.001) which persisted after adjustment for age, smoking and body mass index. The ∆cTG-AUC was significantly lower in males with low alcohol intake (3.0 ± 1.9 mmol·h/L) (n = 27) compared to males with no (7.0 ± 1.8 mmol·h/L) (n = 34), moderate (6.5 ± 1.8 mmol·h/L) (n = 54) or high alcohol intake (7.2 ± 2.2 mmol·h/L) (n = 24), when adjusted for age, smoking and body mass index (adjusted p value < 0.05). In males, low alcohol intake was associated with decreased diurnal triglyceridemia, whereas moderate and high alcohol intake was associated with increased triglycerides after dinner and at bed time.     

2010年上海市15岁及以上居民饮酒行为研究

目的 研究2010年上海市15岁及以上居民饮酒行为现状.方法 采用分层多阶段整群随机抽样的方法,利用2010年“上海市慢性病及其危险因素监测”部分资料,研究上海市15岁及以上居民饮酒现状、饮酒频率、饮酒类型、每日酒精消费量及分级.结果 15岁及以上居民饮酒率为26.1％,男性为43.9％,女性为8.0％.饮酒者中酒精摄入量为34.3 g/d,男性为37.7 g/d,女性为14.9 g/d.不同年龄组中,男性45 ～ 59岁年龄组饮酒率和每日酒精摄入量最高（53.9％和42.6 g/d）,女性18～44岁年龄组饮酒率最高为9.6％,45 ～ 59岁年龄组酒精摄入量最高为16.5 g/d;中心城区和非中心城区的饮酒率分别为22.9％和28.5％,酒精摄入量分别为28.5g/d和37.8 g/d.男性饮酒者中,饮酒频率以几乎每天饮酒的比例最高（35.5％）,3～6d/周的比例最低（13.0％）;饮酒类型中,以饮黄酒、啤酒为主,比例为62.0％和42.8％,饮低度白酒的比例最低为9.8％;过量饮酒、危险饮酒和有害饮酒的比例分别为20.0％、9.2％和20.6％,单次大量饮酒比例为24.6％.结论 2010年上海地区15岁及以上居民饮酒率较高,不同性别、年龄和地区间饮酒行为存在差异.     

EFFECT OF ACUTE ALCOHOL INGESTION ON MINERAL METABOLISM AND OSTEOBLASTIC FUNCTION

Alcohol abuse can induce osteopenia in some subjects. In orderto study the effect of a single dose of alcohol on mineral metabolismand osteoblastic function, we have measured calcium, phosphate,parathyroid hormone midmolecule (PTHm), parathyroid hormoneintact molecule (PTHi) and bone-gla-protein (BGP) in serum of8 healthy men after the ingestion of a single dose of alcohol(0.6g/kg body weight). Urinary calcium and magnesium were alsomeasured. After alcohol intake, both serum PTHm and PTHi weredecreased, as well as serum BGP. Serum phosphate and urinarycalcium and magnesium were increased. An inverse significantcorrelation was found between PTHi and serum phosphate (r =0.42; P < 0.02). Our data show that acute alcohol ingestionlowers serum PTH and BGP in humans, suggesting an inhibitoryeffect on parathyroid and osteoblastic function. These changesand the alcohol-induced transient hypercalciuria could contributeto the development of bone disease associated with chronic alcoholabuse.     

The regulation of alcohol consumption in rats: The role of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes—Catalase and aldehyde dehydrogenase

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and catalase enzymatic activities in brain were assayed and compared to measures of alcohol consumption in two groups of animals screened and maintained on free-choice alcohol access under different conditions. In the first group of Long-Evans rats screened and maintained in home cages, mean alcohol intake was 3.49 g/kg/day with a range of 1.69–5.33 g/kg/day. When alcohol intake (g/kg), total ALDH, low K_m ALDH, and catalase activities were entered in a multiple regression, a significant correlation of r = 0.51 (p < 0.05) was obtained. In the second group of rats consisting of Long-Evans, P, and NP rats screened using a drinkometer procedure, a multiple correlation between ALDH and catalase enzyme activities and alcohol intake of r = 0.42 (p < 0.05) was obtained. There was a strong relationship between the frequency of alcohol drinking bouts and the activities of catalase and ALDH (r = 0.68, p < 0.0001). The P rats had significantly higher catalase activities than either the NP or Long-Evans rats. The results of the present study confirmed earlier reports on the role of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in the regulation of alcohol intake. The results also highlighted the fact that the activity of these alcohol-metabolizing enzymes may play a mediating role in patterns of alcohol intake displayed by animals selected for high and low alcohol drinking and also unselected animals.     

The effect of red wine on plasma leptin levels and vasoactive factors from adipose tissue: a randomized crossover trial

AIMS: It has been reported that alcohol has multiple effects on appetite. To elucidate potential mechanisms we measured the levels of plasma leptin and the vasoactive factors after red wine intake. METHODS: We conducted a randomized crossover trial to study the effect of red wine on the levels of leptin, TNF-alpha, TGF- beta(1), IL-6, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in healthy, non-smoking individuals. The subjects were randomized to drinking one glass of red wine (150 ml, 15 g alcohol) every day ('wine period') or to undergo a period of total abstention from alcohol ('abstention period'). After 3 weeks they switched the intervention group. Eighty-seven volunteers completed the study (mean age 50 years). RESULTS: After 3 weeks' daily intake of red wine, plasma leptin was significantly increased (from 6308 pg/ml to 7402 pg/ml, P = 0.05). There was a marked gender difference, as leptin levels increased only in females (P = 0.012). When calculated as leptin/body mass index (BMI) ratio, the trend and results were similar. Red wine consumption had no significant effect on other vasoactive factors measured in this study. CONCLUSION: Red wine increases levels of the appetite-regulating hormone leptin in females, but not in males. Whether red wine has an effect on appetite-regulation in its own right, remains to be solved.     

Dose-response relationships between drinking and serum tests in Japanese men aged 40-59 years.

Alcohol intake per Japanese adult has been increasing year by year. To show biological effects of drinking, the dose-response relationships between alcohol use and serum indices were analyzed in 5919 Japanese men aged 40-59 years. The subjects were classified into nine groups: a nondrinking (ND, n = 1827) group and eight drinking (1D-8D) groups, by self-reported drinking habit. The 1D (the lightest drinking, n = 699), 5D (n = 942), and 8D (the heaviest drinking, n = 46) groups consumed alcohol less than 30 g per week, 25-30 g alcohol per day, and 100 g alcohol per day or more, respectively. Ten serum indices, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, total/HDL cholesterol ratio, LDL cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, and uric acid, were used. The dose-response analysis was statistically controlled for age, body mass index, smoking, and habitual exercise, and showed that drinking, even a small amount of alcohol, always had both beneficial and adverse effects on humans. However, alcohol less than 30 g per day may be tolerable for middle-aged Japanese men, because it improved serum lipids profile but did not induce apparent liver cell damage, hyperglycemia, or hyperuricemia.     

Different effects of stress on alcohol drinking behaviour in male and female mice selectively bred for high alcohol preference

AIMS: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of stress on alcohol drinking behaviour in male and female mice with a genetic predisposition toward high alcohol preference (HAP2 line). METHODS: Alcohol-na?ve male (n = 22) and female (n = 23) HAP2 mice were assigned to a restraint stress or no stress control group. Stress was initially applied for 2 h per day on 10 consecutive days. All mice were then given daily 2 h limited-access to a 10% v/v alcohol solution or water, with food freely available, for 21 days. Over the next 20 days, 2 h restraint stress was applied every other day immediately prior to 2 h access to alcohol and water. On intervening days, all mice received 2 h access to alcohol and water in the absence of stress. Following this phase of the study, the effects of restraint stress on acoustic startle reactivity was assessed in all mice. Finally, all mice were given continuous access to alcohol and water for 8 days. RESULTS: Ten days of prior stress exposure did not significantly alter the acquisition of limited-access alcohol drinking. Subsequent exposures to intermittent restraint stress produced subtle but consistent effects on alcohol intake that differed in males vs females: stress increased alcohol intake in males and decreased alcohol intake in females. Restraint stress did not alter acoustic startle reactivity. Under continuous-access conditions after stress termination, the stress-induced increase in alcohol intake in males became more robust; however, in females, alcohol intake returned to the control group level. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the effects of stress on alcohol drinking in mice with a genetic predisposition toward high alcohol preference depend on sex.     

Relationship of abdominal obesity with alcohol consumption at population scale

Background The high energy content of alcohol makes its consumption a potential contributor to the obesity epidemic. Aim of the study To determine whether alcohol consumption is a risk factor for abdominal obesity, taking into account energy underreporting. Methods The subjects were Spanish men (n = 1491) and women (n = 1563) aged 25–74 years who were examined in 1999–2000, in a population-based cross-sectional survey in northeastern Spain (Girona). Dietary intake, including alcohol consumption, was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric variables were measured. Results The mean consumption of alcohol was 18.1 ± 20.7 g/d in men and 5.3 ± 10.4 g/d in women. 19.3% of men and 2.3% of women reported alcohol consumption of more than 3 drinks per day. The consumption of alcohol was directly associated with total energy intake in men (P < 0.001) and women (P = 0.001). The proportion of energy underreporting significantly (P < 0.001) decreased with higher amounts of alcohol drinking in both genders. Multiple logistic regression analysis, controlled for energy underreporting, smoking, educational level, leisure-time physical activity, energy, and diet quality, revealed that consuming more than 3 drinks of alcohol (>30 g ethanol) was significantly associated with the risk of abdominal obesity (Odds ratio 1.80; 1.05, 3.09) and exceeding recommended energy consumption (Odds ratio 1.97; 1.32, 2.93) in men. A very small number (2.13%) of women in this population reported high levels of alcohol consumption. Conclusions Alcohol consumption in elevated amounts was associated with risk of abdominal obesity in men, independent of energy underreporting.     

The impact of a meat- versus a vegetable-based diet on iron status in women of childbearing age with small iron stores

Background Single-meal and short-term studies have shown an enhancing effect of meat on iron absorption, but there are few interventions of longer duration comprising measurements of biomarkers of iron status. Aims of the study To assess the impact of a meat-based and a vegetable-based diet on iron status of women of childbearing age. Methods For 20 weeks, 57 women aged 19–39 years with low iron stores (serum ferritin ≤30 μg/l and haemoglobin ≥120 g/l) consumed either a meat-based or a vegetable-based diet. Haemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations were measured at baseline, after 10 and 20 weeks. Information about dietary intake before and during intervention, meat/fish intake, menstruation and contraceptive methods were recorded. Results The women who consumed the meat-based diet had a significantly (P < 0.001) higher intake of meat/fish, 152 (147–168) g/day (median (Q₁–Q₃)) compared to the women consuming the vegetable-based diet 31 (24–36) g/day, while the total iron intake was similar in the two groups (mean ± SE) 11.0 ± 0.5 and 12.3 ± 0.3/day mg/day, respectively. Serum ferritin remained unchanged in women on the meat-based diet (n = 29)(before intervention (median (Q₁–Q₃)): 16.3 (12.7–25.3) μg/l and after intervention: 16.5 (10.3–25.3) μg/l, but declined from 17.3 (10.9–23.7) to 11.2 (8.8–14.6) μg/l (P < 0.001) in women on the vegetable-based diet (n = 28). Conclusion Our results emphasize the importance of the delicate balance between dietary iron content and iron bioavailability for the maintenance of blood indicators of iron stores in women with initially low iron status.     

PATTERNS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG THE GENERAL POPULATION OF CASTILE AND LEON (SPAIN

A total of 2500 individuals, aged 14–70, who live in Castileand Leon (Spain), were surveyed in the spring of 1989 with regardto their alcohol consumption and its patterns. Among those surveyed26.2% were 'daily' drinkers and 66.0% ‘weekly’ drinkers.Differences of alcohol use (frequency) and intake were reviewedwith regard to sociodemographic factors such as gender, age,and marital status. Beer (52.6%) was the favourite drink, withwine (20.6%) the second most commonly consumed alcohol beverage.Most of those surveyed (54.6%) were ‘light’ drinkers(1–39 g/day of pure alcohol), while 3.0% had an intakeof over 80 g/day (‘heavy’ drinkers). The averageage at which they started drinking was 16 2 years The resultsallow a better understanding of the pattern of alcohol consumptionin Spain.     

Binge drinking in alcohol-preferring sP rats at the end of the nocturnal period

Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats have been selectively bred for high alcohol preference and consumption using the standard 2-bottle “alcohol (10%, v/v) vs. water” choice regimen with unlimited access; under this regimen, sP rats daily consume 6–7 g/kg alcohol. The present study assessed a new paradigm of alcohol intake in which sP rats were exposed to the 4-bottle “alcohol (10%, 20%, and 30%, v/v) vs. water” choice regimen during one of the 12 h of the dark phase of the daily light/dark cycle; the time of alcohol exposure was changed daily in a semi-random order and was unpredictable to rats. Alcohol intake was highly positively correlated with the time of the drinking session and averaged approximately 2 g/kg when the drinking session occurred during the 12th hour of the dark phase. Alcohol drinking during the 12th hour of the dark phase resulted in (a) blood alcohol levels averaging approximately 100 mg% and (b) severe signs of alcohol intoxication (e.g., impaired performance at a Rota-Rod task). The results of a series of additional experiments indicate that (a) both singular aspects of this paradigm (i.e., unpredictability of alcohol exposure and concurrent availability of multiple alcohol concentrations) contributed to this high alcohol intake, (b) alcohol intake followed a circadian rhythm, as it decreased progressively over the first 3 h of the light phase and then maintained constant levels until the beginning of the dark phase, and (c) sensitivity to time schedule was specific to alcohol, as it did not generalize to a highly palatable chocolate-flavored beverage. These results demonstrate that unpredictable, limited access to multiple alcohol concentrations may result in exceptionally high intakes of alcohol in sP rats, modeling – to some extent – human binge drinking. A progressively increasing emotional “distress” associated to rats' expectation of alcohol might be the neurobehavioral basis of this drinking behavior.     

Adult anxiety-related behavior of rats following consumption during late adolescence of alcohol alone and in combination with caffeine

During late adolescence (postnatal days, PNDs, 45-55), male and female hooded rats were exposed to alcohol (1.14-1.33 g/kg/day), caffeine (27.03-27.22 mg/kg/day) or alcohol and caffeine together (1.20-1.34 g/kg/day alcohol plus 23.85-26.48 mg/kg/day caffeine) via their drinking water. The rats’ anxiety-related behavior was then assessed on reaching mid adulthood at PND120 in a light-dark box and an open field. For males only, alcohol alone led to increased entries of the light-dark box and (compared with water- or caffeine-exposed subjects) open-field rearing. Alcohol and caffeine combined also increased entries of the light-dark box light compartment and open-field ambulation for males only. The drug combination led to more male ambulation than for alcohol alone, and higher occupancy of the center squares of the apparatus than for males in any other group. Although alcohol alone had no subsequent effects on female behavior, alcohol and caffeine combined led to fewer entries of and less time spent in the light-dark box side then females in any other group. The drug combination also led to less female ambulation in the open field compared with either water- or caffeine-exposed females. The results were interpreted as sex-related potentiation by caffeine of alcohol’s developmental effects that resulted in lower levels of adult anxiety in male, but higher levels in females. The possible significance of this outcome for humans, especially females, was discussed.     

Sex differences in alcohol drinking patterns during forced and voluntary consumption in rats.

Wistar rats were studied during forced and voluntary alcohol consumption, and continuous or periodic access to ethanol (6%) v/v with different availability of fluids. Absolute volume of alcohol consumption was not different between sexes in any condition; however, females consumed significantly more alcohol than males on a g/kg basis in all conditions. These differences were significantly more extensive during continuous free-choice to alcohol and water than during forced alcohol consumption. Females showed greater alcohol preference than males only during continuous free-choice to alcohol and water. During periodic free-choice to alcohol and water condition, alcohol consumption was distributed during more hours throughout the day in females than males. During periodic free-choice to alcohol and to an isocaloric sweetened solution (ISS), intakes of ISS were very high compared to regular intakes of daily water; nevertheless, alcohol consumption was maintained to similar levels observed in continuous free-choice to alcohol and water and represented almost 50% of regular daily consumes of water in males and females. Free-choice for alcohol and ISS modified the usual pattern of alcohol consumption during the daily light-dark cycle in males and females and reduced the time devoted to drinking alcohol compared to other conditions, in which similar intakes were observed. Results show that the extent of the higher alcohol consumption in females than males and the changes in patterns of alcohol intake were dependent on the nature of the ingestion schedule.     

Effects of purified puerarin on voluntary alcohol intake and alcohol withdrawal symptoms in P rats receiving free access to water and alcohol

Alcohol preferring (P) rats, given "free choice" of water, exhibited daily intake of 60-75 g of water/kg of body weight. When given "free choice" of water and 15% ethanol, P rats consumed 7-13 g of alcohol/kg. Their water intake decreased proportionally to the alcohol intake, but total fluid intake did not differ significantly. Alcohol withdrawal after 50 days of alcohol drinking caused withdrawal symptoms such as hypersensitivity, poor coordination, and tremors. A daily 50 mg/kg dose of puerarin (PU) caused approximately 50% suppression in alcohol intake, but did not affect body weight and food and total fluid intake in P rats receiving "free choice" of water and 15% ethanol. Alcohol ingestion gradually returned to the control level despite consistent PU intake. However, alcohol intake following alcohol withdrawal was suppressed in PU-fed P rats. PU suppressed the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Thus, withdrawal symptoms do not occur in PU-fed rats even though their alcohol ingestion is comparable to that in control P rats. Brain, plasma, and liver samples were analyzed for the presence of kudzu root isoflavones, which are mostly PU (>90% of total isoflavones) and a trace amount of daidzin. Liver samples obtained from PU-fed P rats contained 20-30 microg/g of PU. An important observation was that plasma or brain samples obtained from PU-fed or alcohol + PU-fed rats did not contain PU. This study indicated that PU feeding transiently suppressed alcohol intake and abolished withdrawal symptoms at a time when alcohol intake had returned to the control level. The absence of PU in plasma and brain indicates the possibility that some nonspecific mechanism may be involved in the anti-alcoholism effects of PU in P rats.