Moderate alcohol consumption does not augment bone density in ovariectomized rats

Moderate levels of alcohol consumption have been reported to have a beneficial effect on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a moderate level of alcohol consumption on bone density in a rigorously controlled animal model of osteoporosis. Ovariectomized and nonovariectomized rats were placed on standard lab pellets with free access to deionized water ad libitum. Alcohol-treated animals were given 0.38 g/kg of alcohol daily by intubation in the mid-afternoon and free access to standard lab pellets for 6 weeks. The amount of the alcohol solution was calculated daily to give the human equivalent of 2 glasses of wine/day. Pair-fed control animals were given, on the following day, an equal volume of the diet consumed by individual ethanol-fed rats. They received daily intubation solutions, with the ethanol replaced by isocaloric and isovolumetric amounts of maltose-dextrin. Chow-fed control animals received no intubations and were given access to standard lab pellets ad libitum. Ovariectomized animals had increased weight and decreased femur density and bone volume per total volume. They also had decreased total trabecular area, trabecular area, and number, as well as increased trabecular separation. Significant differences were found between the ovariectomized and nonovariectomized animals in the parameters under discussion, but there were no differences between diet groups. No beneficial effects were found after daily alcohol treatments.