Paper Title
Zinc as a Mitigating Agent in Ethanol Toxicity: Thyroidal Enzymes

Abstract
Background and Aim: Zinc is a powerful antioxidant and an essential trace element which plays important role in treating the adverse effects of alcohol intake. Therefore, present study was aimed at investigating the effect of zinc supplementation on thyroidal enzyme activities under such conditions. Method: Male Wistar rats (150-195g) were divided into four groups; Group 1 animals were fed standard pellet feed and tap water ad lib. Group 2 rats were given 3 ml of 30% ethanol orally. Group 3 animals received zinc treatment in the form of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4.7H2O) at a dose level of 227 mg/L mixed with drinking water of the animals. In Group 4, the animals were given ethanol and zinc in the same way as was given to the animals belonging to group 2 and 3 respectively. All these treatments were continued for 8 weeks. Results: MAO activity was found to be significantly decreased when combined ethanol and zinc supplemented rats were compared to the ethanol fed ones, thus indicating that zinc is playing a protective role in regulating the elevated enzyme activity.The thyroid peroxidase activity was found to be significantly enhanced in combined ethanol and zinc treated group as compared to ethanol fed group. Combined ethanol and zinc administration did not result in any significant change in the Na+/K+ ATPase activity as compared to both the normal controls and ethanol fed rats. Conclusion: It appears that zinc supplementation at a dose level of 227mg/L mixed in the drinking water of the animals has somewhat potential in playing an effective role; thereby reducing the toxic effects of ethanol on enzyme activity and which further could possibly be related to the antioxidative nature of zinc under such experimental conditions. Keywords - Thyroid, Zinc, Ethanol, Thyroidal Enzymes.