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Alcohol overconsumption induces multiple effects on kidney function as well as on water, electrolyte and acidbase homeostasis [ 1-3]. Among the electrolyte abnormalities observed in alcoholic patients, hypocalcemia is a common feature and may be evoked by various pathophysiologic mechanisms, which are not yet well delineated [ 1, 3, 4].
We are deeply involved in the study of the acid-base and electrolyte abnormalities observed in chronic alcoholic patients and have extensively studied the pathogenetic mechanisms of hypocalcemia in a large group of alcoholic patients (n = 127) admitted to our University Hospital for causes related to alcohol abuse. The mean (SD) total calcium level was 8.5 +/- mg/dl, which was significantly lower than that observed in 170 normal controls (9.6+/- 0.6 mg/dl, p < 0.001). The mean serum albumin level was 41 +/- 8 g/l, while 16 patients (12.5 %) had coexisting hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <40 g/1). Thus, the mean value of the corrected serum calcium was 8.8 +/- 0.75 mg/dl, which again was significantly lower compared to the control population (p...