Background: Chronic alcohol abuse is a widespread clinical disorder. It leads to bone alterations, mainly osteoporosis. Next to water, tea (green or black) is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Bone mineral density is affected by several compounds contained in tea extracts.
Aim of the Work: Our work aimed to investigate the effects of alcohol on adult male rabbit's compact bone and the possible protective effect of green tea extract. (GTE)
Material and Methods: Twenty-four young adult male rabbits were used. They were divided into equal 4 groups: normal control, green tea, ethanol (EtOH) and EtOH – green tea. After 120 days of treatment, all animals were anaesthetized and sacrificed. Blood ethanol and serum ionized calcium (iCa), phosphorus (P) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were estimated. Serum creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were estimated to determine renal and hepatic integrity. Femurs of each rabbit were processed for histological and morphometrical study.
Results: Chronic alcohol ingestion resulted in a non_significant decrease in serum iCa level and a significant decrease in serum ALP activity. EtOH -treated rabbits did not differ from the controls in mean serum levels of ALT, AST, creatinine or phosphorus. Bone sections from EtOH- treated rabbits revealed multiple areas of degeneration in the thin cartilaginous plate. The trabeculae were thinner, shorter and fewer than those from controls. There was a significant decrease in osteoblast surface and a significant increase in osteoclast surface. Green tea supplementation resulted in marked improving of biochemical, histological and all histomorphometric parameters under investigation.
Conclusion: From the foregoing, dangerous effects of alcohol on the bone became clear. So it is better to restrict its consumption. Natural products as green tea are able to protect against bone deterioration.