[The effect of chronic ethanol consumption on duodenal absorption of iron in mice].

Context: Alcoholists present an increase of iron hepatic concentration, although the responsible mechanisms for this deposition are still unknown. Despite the extensive literature related on the iron absorption in different pathological conditions, the effect of chronic ethanol consumption are still not conclusive and not completely understood.

Objective: To verify the effect of chronic ethanol ingestion on duodenal absorption of iron.

Methods: Ten male Swiss mice were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 5) - control, and group 2 (n = 5) - water consumption with ethanol, as only water source. The animals were followed during 120 days. After this period, the duodenum was isolated and saline solution containing ascorbate of iron II in the 0,016 concentration of mg of iron element was infused. The effluent was collected in times 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 minutes. The results were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The significance was set for P<0.05.

Results: No difference was found between iron absorption as well as iron absorption curves in groups 1 and 2.

Conclusion: The chronic consumption of ethanol did not alter iron absorption.