The dose-dependency of alcohol-induced hypoparathyroidism, hypercalciuria, and hypermagnesuria

Abstract

Ingestion of alcohol evokes hypoparathyroidism, hypercalciuria, and hypermagnesuria. The dose-dependency of these changes has not been assessed before. We measured the serum concentrations of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), and serum and urine calcium and magnesium in six normal men before and at intervals up to 6 h after the ingestion of fruit juice (control) and 0.5, 1.0 and 1.3 g of alcohol per kg of body weight. As compared with the control experiment the maximum reductions in the mean PTH concentration were 31% (P = 0.19), 31% (P = 0.20) and 45% (P = 0.01) with the three alcohol doses, respectively. After stopping drinking, the urinary excretion of calcium was 85%, 142% and 207% higher during the three alcohol experiments than during the control session (P < 0.05, < 0.01 and < 0.01, respectively), also urinary magnesium increased up to threefold. We conclude that in nonalcoholic subjects acute alcohol intake induces hypoparathyroidism, hypercalciuria, and hypermagnesuria, the latter two being dose-dependent. The direct renal effects of alcohol are the major mechanisms for hypercalciuria and hypermagnesuria, but hypoparathyroidism contributes to hypercalciuria at high levels of alcohol intoxication.