Alcohol Metabolism Flashcards
Where is alcohol mostly metabolised?
The liver
Smaller amounts of alcohol can be metabolised by?
- cytochrome P450 2E1
- catalase in the brain
Describe how alcohol is metabolised
- alcohol (ethanol) oxidised to acetaldehyde
- by alcohol dehydrogenase
- acetaldehyde oxidised to acetate
- by aldehyde dehydrogenase
-both reactions reduces NAD+ to NADH
Why does alcohol cause hangover symptoms?
- Acetaldehyde is toxic
- Accumulation causes nausea
How can excessive alcohol intake cause liver damage?
- Acetate forms acetyl~CoA with coenzyme A
- excess NADH and acetyl~CoA lead to changes in liver metabolism
What liver damage conditions are associated with drinking alcohol?
- fatty liver
- alcoholic hepatitis
- alcoholic cirrhosis
How can low NAD+/NADH ratio lead to lactic acidosis?
Inadequate NAD+ to convert lactate to pyruvate
Lactate accumulates
How can low NAD+/NADH ratio lead to gout?
- Lactate accumulation leads to decreased kidney function
- rate crystals accumulate
How can low NAD+/NADH ratio lead to hypoglycaemia?
Inadequate NAD+ for glycerol metabolism
How can an increase in Acetyl~CoA lead to a fatty liver?
Increased fatty acids and ketone bodies synthesis
Name a drug used to treat alcohol dependance
Disulfiram
Explain how Disulfiram can be used to treat alcohol dependance
- aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor
- accumulation of acetaldehyde leads to hangover symptoms
- treats psychologically (classical conditioning)
