DOES THE INGESTION OF ALCOHOL INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTERIOSCLEROSIS IN FOWLS?

Abstract

The effect of alcohol ingestion upon the development of naturally occurring and stilbestrol-induced arteriosclerosis was studied. In 2 experiments, a 15% ethyl alcohol solution was used for drinking purposes, and in a 3d experiment wine containing 12% of it was given. The caloric intake of both food and alcohol was carefully controlled by pair-feeding, a glucose solution being used for drinking in the control birds. A total of 224 cockerels was studied, and the period of observation for each experiment lasted 12 months. The degree of arteriosclerosis in the thoracic and abdominal aortas was determined grossly and microscopically. The gross gradings were subjected to a critical statistical analysis, which yielded no evidence that alcohol or the wine used had affected the degree of gross arteriosclerosis or lipid infiltration.