A pilot study on the ability of clinoptilolite to absorb ethanol in vivo in healthy drinkers: effect of gender.

Zeolites are microscopic minerals of volcanic origin, and the zeolite most commonly used in medicine is clinoptilolite. Over the years, clinoptilolite has been tested in several ways: as an antioxidant, as an adjuvant in anticancer therapy due to its ability to capture chemotoxins, as an antidiarrhoeal agent and as a chelating agent for heavy metals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of clinoptilolite to absorb ethanol in vivo in healthy drinkers. We enrolled 12 healthy drinkers in this study. The study was conducted as follows: phase 1: consumption of a hydroalcoholic solution containing 25 g of ethanol; phase 2: use of a 16.25 mL medical device containing clinoptilolite (2.5 g of clinoptilolite within a single-dose sachet) + consumption of a hydroalcoholic solution containing 25 g of ethanol; phase 3: use of a 32.5 mL medical device (5 g of clinoptilolite within a single-dose sachet) + consumption of a hydroalcoholic solution containing 25 g of ethanol. At the time of blood sampling, alcohol ingestion was also measured using an Alcolmeter instrument, and the results showed that the two methods overlapped. Reductions of 43%, 35%, 41% and 34% in blood ethanol at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes, respectively, were observed after the consumption of 5 g of clinoptilolite + 25 g of ethanol in both males and females, whereas the consumption of 2.5 g of clinoptilolite did not result in a statistically significant reduction in blood ethanol. In particular, the blood ethanol reduction was more significant in males. Our study highlights and confirms the ability of clinoptilolite to decrease the absorption of ingested ethanol by reducing blood alcohol levels. This effect was statistically significant at a dose of 5 g.

Potassium-rich diet and risk of stroke: updated meta-analysis.

Recently a few prospective population studies provided additional and heterogeneous information concerning the reported statistical associations between potassium (K) intake and stroke risk. Therefore, we updated our previous meta-analysis of K intake and risk of cerebrovascular events. Three studies were added to the previous analysis, and the results of the comparison between the event rate in the two extreme categories of K intake were used. Pooled analysis of 14 cohorts (overall 333,250 participants and 10,659 events) showed an inverse and significant association between K intake and risk of stroke (Relative Risk: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72-0.90). Our results indicated a favorable effect of higher K intake on risk of stroke. These results confirm the appropriateness of worldwide recommendations for a population increased consumption of potassium-rich foods to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Determination of plasma alpha-glutathione-S-transferases in chronic alcohol abusers: relationship with alcohol intake and liver involvement.

UNLABELLED: Alpha-gluthathione-S-transferases (alpha-GSTs) are enzymes involved in the cellular detoxifying processes; elevated circulating alpha-GSTs activity is considered to be an early index of liver damage. Glutathione (GSH) is the substrate for alpha-GST action. THE AIMS OF OUR STUDY WERE: (1) to evaluate plasma GSH levels and alpha-GST activity in chronic alcohol abusers with or without liver cirrhosis; (2) to define the relationship between these two biochemical parameters; (3) to establish their clinical relevance in patients with alcohol abuse and/or liver damage. We studied 69 subjects (18 healthy subjects and 51 chronic alcohol abusers: 29 without liver cirrhosis and 22 with). Plasma alpha-GST activity was determined on baseline samples and every following day for a total of 10 days in five alcoholics by HEPKIT (Alpha-Biotech, Biotrin International, Dublin, Ireland). GSH was determined on all subjects' baseline samples by fluorescent high-performance liquid chromatography. Alcohol intake was evaluated in all patients by determining blood-alcohol concentrations. Significant increases in plasma alpha-GSTs were observed in 9/29 (31%) alcoholics and 3/22 (13.6%) cirrhotics irrespective of their alcohol intake. GSH was significantly lower than normal values (P < 0.001) in all alcoholics with or without cirrhosis (controls 10.4 +/- 4.8; alcoholics without cirrhosis 3.9 +/- 1.4; alcoholics with cirrhosis 3.3 +/- 1.6). No correlation was observed between plasma alpha-GST and GSH levels. Our data indicate that: (1) alpha-GST activity does not correlate with GSH levels in the plasma; (2) alpha-GSTs do not have clinical relevance as markers of recent alcohol intake; (3) in cirrhotics, alpha-GST does not provide more information than other liver function tests. However, plasma alpha-GST determination may be useful in selecting a subgroup of alcoholics in whom routine biochemical markers of liver damage are within reference ranges.