Magnesium levels in alcohol-treated rodents using different consumption paradigms.

To develop an animal model system that examines magnesium (Mg) deficiency associated with chronic alcohol consumption, we tried to reproduce a Mg-deficient state, caused by alcohol consumption, in rats using different alcohol consumption experimental designs. Serum and bone samples were collected from 2-day binge (high BACs achieved by intubating a 5% ethanol solution 2 consecutive days/week), 5-day binge, moderate drinking, and adolescent (4-week-old rats, equivalent to late teen/early adult humans) alcohol consumption projects. Mg content was measured using color spectrophotometry. Alcohol-fed animals consumed a liquid diet containing 0.38 g/kg/day ethanol in the moderate project and 35% ethanol-derived calories in the adolescent drinking project. Animals in the two binge drinking projects were intubated with 12 g/kg/day of ethanol in a 5% solution. When looked at acutely and chronically, no consistent deficiencies in Mg were seen. The lack of a chronic Mg deficiency in rats may indicate a different mechanism of action than observed in humans.