Alcohol Flashcards
why can high consumption of alcohol lead to obesity ?
-alcohol is energy dense 1g=7kcal these are empty calories and can contribute to weight gain around the waist
-liver breaks down alcohol before fat so fat can accumulate in the abdominal area increasing waist circumference
-alcohol can lead to disrupted sleep so causes the body to release more cortisol which is the stress hormone which can lead to overeating and bingeing
-alcohol increases cravings for HFSS foods
-males are more likely to gain abdominal fat from drinking alcohol
why can drinking alcohol contribute to the development of CVD?
-link between excess alcohol consumption and hypertension which over time can put strain on the heart and increase the risk of CVD
-high consumption of alcohol can lead to a disease of the cardiac muscle called cardiomyopathy
-binge drinking for more than 4 days for women and 5 days for men can cause irregular rapid heartbeat called arrhythmias
-regularly consuming too many calories can lead to weight gain which is a risk factor for CVD
-alcohol can increase LDL cholesterol which can increase risk of CVD, this is ore common in men
why can high consumption of alcohol contribute to the development of cancer?
-alcohol influences the levels of oestrogen and other hormones which makes cancer more likely
-alcohol is carcinogenic which can cause cellular damage and cause cancer
-alcohol contains ethanol which is carcinogenic, when drank it is converted into acetaldehyde when in excess becomes toxic which directly damages cellular DNA which affects how the cell is able to repair itself and can cause cells to become cancerous
-it also reduces folate absorption in the liver which can remove the off switch cells have for certain genes, this causes bid changes to the cell which can cause the cell to become cancerous
-excess alcohol can cause liver cirrhosis which can make liver cancer much more likely
why can alcohol consumption in pregnancy affect the baby?
-safest option is to not drink alcohol at all during pregnancy
-risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight risk are increased in women who drink alcohol in the first trimester and are even higher if the mother has been binge drinking
-cause malabsorption of nutrients, affect the absorption and bioavailability of nutrients particularly vit b1, b12, folate and zinc
-all alcohol passes from the mothers blood to the baby through the placenta which results in toxic damage of the babies liver as it is underdeveloped
why can alcohol affect the baby’s brain?
-alcohol results in damage to the baby’s brain cells, nervous system and structure of the brain leading to cognitive impairment and learning problems
why can alcohol cause physical disabilities in the baby?
-when the mother drinks alcohol there is an increased likelihood of the baby developing physical abnormalities or organ damage and malformations in sight or hearing
what is fetal alcohol syndrome and what does it relate too?
-this covers a wide range of symptoms which is linked to the mothers alcohol consumption and results in a range of physical symptoms and distinctive characteristic in the baby
-symptoms include poor memory, ADHD, poor social skills and physical disabilities
what is the effect of excessive alcohol consumption on fat metabolism?
-alcohol reduces the amount of fat the body burns for energy
-alcohol is not stored so must be metabolized right away which has a detrimental effect on other metabolic processes
-it promotes accumulation of fat in the liver because it substitutes ethanol for fatty acids
-it can cause hyperlipidemia when excessive alcohol intake interferes with fat metabolism in the liver and increases LDL cholesterol
what is the effect of excess alcohol on the control of blood glucose levels?
-alcohol is a toxin which makes control of blood sugar levels
-alcohol is high in simple carbs which raises blood glucose levels rapidly
-excessive alcohol intake inflames the pancreas and so the production of insulin is reduced and so control of glucose levels is less effective
-it can also result in too much insulin secretion which can lead to too low blood sugar levels
why can excessive alcohol stop the absorption and metabolism of nutrients? what are these specific nutrients?
-excessive alcohol can interfere with absorption of certain nutrients
-alcohol can decrease secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas
-impairs nutrient absorption by damaging cells lining stomach and intestine
-prevents those nutrients that are absorbed form being fully utilized by altering their transport and storage
-vitamins help regulate physiological processes in the body, excessive drinking can cause vitamin deficiencies
-b group vitamins, vit d and vit k are the most effected by this
what are 3 deficiencies of each of the b group vitamins, vit d and vit k which form as a result of consumption of excess alcohol?
-b group = fatigue, anaemia, poor immune system
-vit d and k = impact bone health which can lead to oesteoporosis, weak immune system
why can an excess consumption of alcohol effect the absorption of iron?
-reduces iron status leading to anaemia
-low iron status may be a result of internal bleeding due to damaged intestinal linings
-depending on amount of alcohol comsumed it can cause additional iron in the organs which can lead to iron toxicity, known as hemochromatosis
-iron toxicity can cause damage to organs
-iron deficiency can cause a poor immune system and poot brain function
why can excess alcohol affect the absorption of of zinc?
-alcohol can decrease the absorption of zinc
-zinc is required by men to produce testosterone and increase sperm count
-a deficiency in zinc can cause fertility issues and can cause slow wound healing
