We studied the effect of ethanol and folic acid on oxidative stress caused by chronic ethanol consumption in heart and kidney. We have measured antioxidants enzymes and markers of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. Male Wistar adult rats were divided into 4 groups: Control group (C): water and basic diet; Alcohol group (A): ethanol and basic diet; Folic acid + alcohol group (FA): ethanol and folic acid supplemented diet; Folic acid + control group (FC): water and folic acid supplemented diet. After 8 weeks of treatment, rats were anaethetized and organs removed, washed, homogenized and centrifugated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), gluthatione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities were measured by colorimetric methods. We also studied two markers of oxidative damage to lipids (TBARS, thiobarbituric reactive substances) and proteins (carbonyl groups).

The specific activity of GR, GPX, SOD and carbonyl groups in A and FA remains unchanged in heart and kidney. However, folic acid supplementation recovered CAT values that were significantly alter in both organs of A. TBARS were decreased in A heart, and were mitigated when rats were treated with folic acid concomitantly to ethanol administration. So, folic acid may be useful in the prevention of oxidative damage by ethanol.

Acknowledgements: Grant PI060335 supported this investigation from the Fondo Investigaciones Sanitarias.