Alcohol

Question 1

Describe the nutritional value of alcohol

Answer 1

Caloric value: 7kcal/g of pure alcohol
Empty calories
~10% of total energy intake of moderate consumers
~50% of total energy intake of alcoholics

Question 2

Outline the metabolism of alcohol

Answer 2

Water and lipid soluble
Readily absorbed through entire GI tract (including stomach)
Transported unaltered through blood
Enters cells easily through passive transport
Denatures proteins in blood and destroys cell structure
Oxidatively degraded in tissues (mainly liver)

Enzymes involved:
Alcohol dehydrogenase - mostly hepatic, some gastric
Cytochrome P450 system (microsomal ethanol oxidizing system - MEOS) - hepatic
Catalase - minimal

Question 3

Discuss potential disadvantages of alcohol consumption

Answer 3

Can cause several biochemical and metabolic alterations:
Acetaldehyde toxicity
High NDAH:NAD+ ratio
Choline deficiency
Substrate competition
Induced metabolic tolerance

Question 4

Discuss potential positive effects of alcohol consumption

Answer 4

Alcohol can decrease risk of CVD by:
Elevating HDL
Lowering serum lipoprotein
May suppress proliferation do smooth muscle cells underlying the endothelium of arterial walls