Alcohol Flashcards
How are blood alcohol levels measured/calculated?
Calculated by 10g alcohol / 40L (average body water)
How is alcohol absorbed and metabolised?
100% absorbed by passive diffusion without digestion
Absorbed more rapidly when fasting
Metabolised in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)
What are the 3 etoh metabolism pathways?
- ADH (aldehyde dehydrogenase pathway)
- MEOS (microsomal ethanol oxidising system)
- Catalase
When is the MEOS pathway used?
In chronic alcohol consumption
What happens to the MEOS pathway when alcohol + drugs are involved?
MEOS is also used to metabolise drugs
If this pathway is being used for alcohol metabolism, less MEOS is available for drug metabolism and therefore can increase and/or prolong the drug effect
What is the alcohol metabolism pathway and what enzymes are involved?
Alcohol -> acetaldehye -> acetic acid
Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde
Aldehydedehydrogenase (ALDH) breaks down acetaldehyde into acetic acid
How does alcohol intake lead to thiamine deficiency and what is the disease called?
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
- alcohol impairs absorption of thiamine
- inadequate dietary intake in chronic alcoholics
How does alcohol affect fat metabolism?
Increased alcohol consumption suppresses fatty acid oxidation and stimulates FA synthesis in the liver
This contributes to fatty liver and increased TGs
How does alcohol consumption cause liver damage?
Alcohol denatures proteins in the hepatic cell membrane, causes oxidative stress and inflammation
How does alcohol consumption lead to cancer?
- oxidative stress
- inflammation
- causes cell damage
What are the NHMRC guidelines for alcohol intake?
< 2 std drinks per day (lifetime risk)
< 4 std drinks on any occasion to prevent injury
Children, adolescents, pregnancy and lactation - no alcohol is the safest
