Trabecular microarchitecture and tensile strength of the humerus in diabetic Sprague Dawley rats consuming alcohol: a micro focus X-ray computed tomography case-control study

Diabetes and excessive alcohol consumption both negatively impact bone health independently. However, their combined effect is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate humerus trabecular morphometry and tensile strength in diabetic rats that consumed alcohol. Thirty-one (31) 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 330g-370g were used. Rats were grouped as follows: untreated (control), which got no treatment (n=8); ALC, which consumed alcohol (n=8); and DB, diabetic group (n=7). The study also included an additional diabetic group that received alcohol, (DB+ALC) (n=8). Serum insulin and fasting blood glucose levels were used to confirm diabetes, which was induced by a high-fructose diet and streptozotocin. ALC rats received drinking water with 10% v/v alcohol daily until termination at 24 weeks of age. Afterwards, bilateral humeri were dissected and stored in 10% buffered formalin before osteometric measurements were recorded. Micro-focus X-ray computed tomography (Micro CT) scanning was then conducted to evaluate trabecular number (TbN), thickness (TbTh), spacing (TbSp), bone tissue volume ratio (BV/TV) before undergoing, and tensile strength tests. The DB+ALC group had shorter humeri, although the bicondylar breadth was similar among all groups. The DB+ALC and the DB group showed diminished trabecular thickness (TbTh), but more trabeculae (TbN). The maximum and break force were the lowest in the DB+ALC group. Diabetic skeletopathy worsens with alcohol use, leading to shorter bones with lower trabecular thickness, maximum, and break force in the DB+ALC treated group. We suggest increased bone health monitoring for diabetic patients who consume alcohol.