Intestinal folate conjugase activity and folate absorption in the ethanol-fed pregnant rat

The effect of chronic alcohol consumption on intestinal folate conjugase activity and on the absorption of both mono- and polyglutamyl folates was evaluated in pregnant rats. Female rats were given either 20% ethanol in drinking water and rat chow ad libitum (alcohol group) or were fed rat chow and water ad libitum (controls). After four weeks on this regimen all animals were bred and the alcohol group was changed to 30% ethanol in water. Conjugase activity, in vivo folate absorption, and fetal and placental weights were measured on day 20 of gestation. The controls consumed more food than the alcohol group, which was reflected in significantly higher body weights of the control group. Fetal weights of the alcohol group were significantly lower than those of the controls, but litter size and placental weights were not significantly different. No significant differences were found in intestinal conjugase activity between the two groups of animals, but the intestinal absorption of both folate mono- and pentaglutamate were significantly higher in the alcohol than in the control group. The absorption of folate pentaglutamate was higher than that of folate monoglutamate in both groups of animals but the differences were not significant. These findings indicate that ethanol ingestion during pregnancy does not seem to interfere with either folate polyglutamate hydrolysis or folate absorption.