12. Alcohol Metabolism Flashcards
What are the recommended alcohol limits for males and females?
21 units a week or 4 units a day for men. 14 units a week or 3units a day for women.
How quickly is alcohol eliminated from the body?
~7g of ethanol an hour (just under one unit).
How much ethanol is in one unit?
8g.
Describe the process of alcohol metabolism.
Ethanol + NAD+ –> acetaldehyde + NADH
Alcohol dehydrogenase
Acetaldehyde + NAD+ –> acetate + NADH
Aldehyde dehydrogenase
What causes the feeling of a hangover?
Accumulation of acetaldehyde.
What causes liver damage?
Prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption causing acetaldehyde accumulation. Excess NADH and acetyl-CoA.
What four end things can alcohol consumption lead to?
Lactic acidosis, gout, hypoglycaemia and fatty liver.
How can alcohol dependence be treated?
Disulfiram is given which is an inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase so there is an accumulation of acetaldehyde causing a hangover.
Where is alcohol metabolised?
> 90% in the liver, the rest is excreted passively in urine and on breath.
