Alcohol is an (essential / non-essential) nutrient.
non-essential
How is alcohol produced?
Fementation of yeast +/- distillation
What percentage of alcohol is absorbed in the stomach?
”” in the small intestine?
20%
80%
Is alcohol stored in the liver?
No, metabolised immediately to limit damage
When does BAC peak?
30-60 minutes following consumption
What nutritional factor influences BAC?
Food consumption
What is the only factor influencing elimination of alcohol from your system?
Time
Why does a woman’s BAC increase quicker than that of a man?
More subcutaneous fat
–> lower blood volume
–> less dilution of alcohol
Food ___ absorption of alcohol and (speeds up / slows down) elimination of alcohol.
reduces absorption
speeds up elimination
What is food’s effect on gastric emptying?
How else may it contribute to reduced absorption of alcohol?
Slows down gastric emptying
May bind/trap ethanol
Food increases the rate of ___ blood flow.
What effect does this have?
portal
Increases ethanol metabolism in the liver
As food increases the time alcohol has to be absorbed in the stomach, the liver has more time to ___ it.
metabolise
How many kcal does 1g of alcohol contain?
7 kcal
How many units does a pint of beer tend to contain on average?
Around 2 units
How many units are contained in
a) 1 large glass of wine
b) 1 pint of beer
c) 1 bottle of cider
d) 1 small glass of wine?
a) 3 units
b) 2 units
c) 2 units
d) 2 units
What types of drinking tend to be associated with weight gain?
Heavy / binge drinking
Patients are advised to have ___ non-alcoholic drink between each alcoholic drink.
one
Should you drink on a full stomach?
Yeah
Alcoholism increases your risk of nutrient ___.
deficiencies
Which nutrient does ethanol metabolism rely on?
Thiamine
When the liver is damaged, its capacity to store ___ is reduced.
vitamins
Which hormone, released in the stomach, stimulates appetite?
Ghrelin
Alcohol excess ___ your appetite.
alters
In which foods is thiamine found?
Cereals, beans, nuts, yeast, meat
What are the functions of thiamine?
ATP production (Kreb’s cycle, so deficiency causes anaerobic respiration > lactic acidosis > brain damage)
Maintenance of peripheral nerves (so deficiency causes peripheral neuropathy > dry beriberi)
What are the three thiamine deficiency diseases?
Dry beriberi
Wet beriberi
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Which system does dry beriberi affect?
Nervous system
Which system does wet beriberi affect?
CV system
Which neurological disease is caused by thiamine deficiency?
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
What kind of support is recommended for malnourished patients?
Enteral nutrition
Parenteral nutrition
What is the recommended weekly alcohol intake limit for men and women?
14 units
Heavy drinking increases your risk of ___ disease.
cardiovascular
Which cancers are strongly associated with alcohol?
breast
bowel
liver
mouth/throat
oesophageal
stomach
Why does drinking and smoking at the same time greatly increase your chances of developing cancer?
Alcohol acts as a solvent for carcinogens to travel around the body
Drinking is associated with what endocrine disease?
Diabetes
Should pregnant women consume any alcohol?
No, no safe level
Pregnant women drinking alcohol can lead to which spectrum of disorders in their children?
Foetal alcohol syndrome
What are some presentations of foetal alcohol syndrome?
Abnormal appearance; low body weight; small head size
Reduced intelligence
Developmental delay; poor behaviour; sight and hearing problems
If alcohol is consumed very early in the pregnancy (i.e before the pregnancy is known), how at risk is the baby?
Not at huge risk
The amount of alcohol in a women’s blood stream is (more than / equal to) the amount in her breast milk.
equal to
Ideally, alcohol should be ___ while breastfeeding.
avoided
