Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Copper

“ Ethanol consumption and/or liver damage may alter liver content of several trace elements, as iron, zinc, copper , and manganese.”

“Superoxide dismutase, catalase and different hydroxyl radical scavengers (mannitol, tris, formate and ethanol ) markedly reduced the haemolytic effect of copper and catecholamine, suggesting the possibility that superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide, formed in the reaction system, cooperate in producing hydroxyl radicals, which are directly involved in the haemolytic action.”

“ Hair copper was significantly related to the amount of ethanol consumed, whereas hair zinc was higher in consumers of distilled beverages.”

“Problem-focused (P-F) coping preference moderated this relationship, with low P-F copers consuming more alcohol per occasion than did high P-F copers but only during low-stress weeks.”

“These results suggest that copper overdose with ethanol intake can cause neuronal loss in hippocampus of rat brain.”

“Long-term consumption of ethanol alone caused a decrease in femur Zn and liver Cu concentrations.”

“ Ethanol administration significantly increased Fe concentration in the liver, yet significantly decreased concentration of Cu in the heart.”

“The levels of vitamins A and E, Zn, and Cu in the thymus in murine AIDS were also significantly affected by ETOH consumption.”

“2) Bones of rats treated with ethanol for 42 days had significantly reduced mineral content (approximately 20%) with accompanying reductions in phosphate, calcium, copper and magnesium, but not sodium or potassium.”

“ Ethanol administration counteracts the protective effect of copper on iron concentration, total and latent iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation index and ceruloplasmin serum content.”

“In rats receiving copper together with ethanol the blood levels of copper, iron and lead were higher than in the rats receiving copper alone, the total and latent iron binding capacity were depressed, the transferrin saturation with iron was increased and the ceruloplasmin content--decreased.”