Effects of Maalox Plus® Antacid and PureCal® Calcium Supplement on Physical Characteristics, Body Weight, Tissue Minerals and Histopathology of Rats Subjected to Alcohol Intoxication

Abstract

Overconsumption of alcohol is associated with morbidity including depletion of the body’s stores of magnesium and calcium. Conversely therapy with magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) in the event of chronic alcoholism normalizes elevated enzyme activities. Similar information on acute alcohol intoxication is missing. This study examined the effects of Maalox plus® antacid and pureCal® calcium supplement which are rich in Mg and Ca, respectively, on the body weight, tissue magnesium and calcium together with histopathology of rats exposed to acute alcohol intoxication. Alcohol was administered orally at a dosage 5 g/kg body weight for five days and supplements for two days of the week for duration of 28 days. The animals were weighed weekly and tissues obtained at the end of the treatment regimen. Statistical comparison was done using one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test. Alcohol ingestion leads to hypomagnesemia a condition that was reversed by both drugs. Liver histology showed that alcohol caused cellular infiltration and cytoplasmic vacuolization. For kidney there was cellular infiltration and widening of tubules. Visible improvement of the liver histology architecture was discernible in rats cotreated with Ca and Mg. These results showed that alcohol altered tissue architecture and the renal cation exchange mechanism as shown by the variation in serum Ca2 and K levels. Maalox plus® and pureCal® alleviated the alcohol induced adverse effects. These findings allude to these drugs being useful agents with potential applications in the management of adverse effects associated with acute alcohol intoxication.