Magnesium and zinc deficiency and growth retardation in offspring of alcoholic rats.

Alcohol ingestion during pregnancy is known to cause fetal malformation and growth retardation. We investigated the effect of alcohol on mineral content and fetal development in rats fed 24% (v/v) alcohol eight weeks prior to and during pregnancy. Rats ingesting alcohol produced fewer fetuses (6.3 +/- 0.3 vs 9.6 +/- 0.3 in control) with lower fetal weight (3.48 +/- 0.09 vs 4.12 +/- 0.08 gm in control) and heavier placentas (0.66 +/- 0.05 vs 0.50 +/- 0.01 gm in control). The fetuses of alcoholic rats contained lower zinc (423.8 +/- 4.5 vs 459.9 +/- 5.4 microEq/100 gm dry weight in control) and magnesium (12.4 +/- 0.1 vs 12.7 +/- 0.1 mEq/100 gm dry weight in control) in the total carcass.