Effects of mineral and vitamin supplementation on the alcohol-induced fatty liver and microsomal induction.
In rats fed ethanol (36% of total energy) for 1 month as part of a standard liquid diet, significant increases in hepatic lipids, microsomal cytochrome P-450, and in the activity of the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system were observed. Similar effects were noted in another group of animals treated with the same ethanol-containing diet, except that the content of minerals and vitamins was increased by 50%. Body weight gains were also comparable in these groups. It is concluded that these effects of ethanol are not due to vitamin and mineral deficiency secondary to decreased food intake but rather can be attributed to ethanol itself.