Alcohols Effect on the Body.ppt

Alcohol’s Effect on the Body Jennifer Fleischer Lee-Anne Nordin Teresa Welsch What is an alcohol? Chemical terms = a class of organic compounds containing hydroxyl (OH) groups Common Terms = ethyl alcohol (ethanol) = intoxicating ingredient in beer, wine and distilled spirits (hard liquor) DRUG H H-C-H H-C-H OH Characteristics of alcohol Can dissolve lipids out of cell membranes = fast cell penetration, destroys and kills cells Kills microbial cells = disinfectants Toxic in relatively small doses (ethanol less so) Modifies body functions = a drug Potentially toxic and cannot be stored in the body Alcoholic Beverages Stated in proofs 100 = 50% alcohol 80 = 40 % etc. A drink = ? ounce of pure ethanol Moderate intake: Avg. male = 2 drinks / day Avg. female = 1 drink / day Alcohol in the Body Does not need time for digestion Quickly absorbed On a full stomach the effects are delayed Always receives priority status and attention when present in the body Breakdown Begins in stomach – alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme Capillaries of digestive tract merge to veins and carry alcohol to liver *Goal is to get out of body as quickly as possible At the Liver Veins make alcohols touch every liver cell Liver cells = enough alcohol dehydrogenase to work fast enough to dispose of some alcohol before it moves on – Can process ? (one drink) ounce per hour #1 priority status = alcohol is metabolized before fatty acids and thus fatty acids accumulate Microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system (MOES) Approx. 20% of alcohol consumed is handled by this system Also used to break down other drugs (alcohol is still the #1 priority) 10% of alcohol leaves through breath and urine Alcohol dehydrogenase breakdown: 1. oxidizes to acetaldehyde 2.acetaldehyde dehydrogenase converts to acetate 3.converted to acetyl CoA These reactions produce H+ - Picked up by NAD to become NADH. Other processes such as energy are put on hold Excess NADH = lactic acid production