Alcohol intoxication may exacerbate the effects of blunt cranial trauma through changes in brain free magnesium levels

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dc.contributor.authorVink, R.
dc.contributor.authorByard, R.
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractModerate to high levels of alcohol decrease brain intracellular free magnesium concentration, a factor known to be critical in brain injury. Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to examine changes to brain free magnesium concentration after blunt cranial trauma in alcohol-intoxicated rats. Rats exposed acutely or chronically to alcohol sufficient to increase blood alcohol levels to between 150 and 350 mg/dL demonstrated a brain free magnesium level that was 20-50% less than in nonintoxicated animals (p < 0.01). After injury, brain free magnesium levels declined more rapidly and to a greater extent in alcohol-affected animals than in nonintoxicated control animals (p < 0.001). As both preinjury depletion of magnesium and degree of magnesium decline after brain injury have been associated with poor recovery, these findings suggest that moderate to severe alcohol intoxication may predispose the brain to a worse outcome by reducing brain free magnesium levels, both before and after injury.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityRobert Vink and Roger W. Byard
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Forensic Sciences, 2012; 57(4):979-982
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02108.x
dc.identifier.issn0022-1198
dc.identifier.issn1556-4029
dc.identifier.orcidVink, R. [0000-0002-4885-0667]
dc.identifier.orcidByard, R. [0000-0002-0524-5942]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/76082
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAmer Soc Testing Materials
dc.rights© 2012 American Academy of Forensic Sciences
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02108.x
dc.subjectforensic science
dc.subjectalcohol
dc.subjectblunt cerebral trauma
dc.subjecttraumatic brain injury
dc.subjectmagnesium
dc.subjectintoxication
dc.subjectdeath
dc.titleAlcohol intoxication may exacerbate the effects of blunt cranial trauma through changes in brain free magnesium levels
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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