In this work, 31P phosphorus NMR (31P NMR) studies of the brain have been conducted in rats acutely and chronically intoxicated with ethanol. In both groups, changes in levels of high-energy phosphates were observed: increase of phosphocreatinine (PCr)/beta AaTP and PCr/inorganic phosphate (Pi) in acute and long-term ethanol exposure, and decrease of Pi/beta ATP after acute ethanol administration. These changes in high-energy phosphates, indicative of a reduction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and PCr consumption (PCr+ ADP+ H+ ATP+ Cr; ATP ADP+ Pi), suggest a reduction of cerebral metabolism both in acute and chronic ethanol exposure. In addition, in the group of rats chronically intoxicated with ethanol, there were variations in phosphodiester peak intensities (decrease of phosphomonoester (PME)/phosphodiester (PDE), increase of PDE/beta ATP), suggesting increased breakdown of membrane phospholipids. These changes could provide a metabolic explanation for the development of cerebral atrophy in chronic alcoholism.

The effects of zinc supplementation on zinc status and on clinical and biological indicators of inflammation were investigated in 18 patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases and in 9 healthy control subjects. Patients with mild and recent onset disease were assigned to a 60-d trial to receive either 45 mg Zn (as gluconate)/d or a placebo, while control subjects received the zinc supplement. Baseline mean plasma zinc of the patients was low whereas mononuclear cell zinc content was elevated, suggesting a redistribution of the element related to the inflammatory process rather than to a zinc-deficient state. Zinc supplementation increased plasma zinc to a similar extent in patients and in control subjects, which suggested no impairment of zinc intestinal absorption as a result of the inflammatory process. On the contrary, erythrocyte and leukocyte zinc concentrations were not modified in the two groups examined. No beneficial effect of zinc treatment could be demonstrated on either clinical or inflammation indexes.

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