Alcohol

Question 1

How many calories does alcohol provide per gram? (Do not memorize the calorie content of specific alcoholic beverages.)

Answer 1

Supplies energy (calories) like the energy nutrients: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins
◦ Provides 7 calories/gram.

Remember: alcohol is not a nutrient!!

Question 2

Where is alcohol absorbed and metabolized in the body? How does alcohol break down in the body? What happens to the alcohol as it is waiting to be broken down?

Answer 2

• Some alcohol absorption takes place in the stomach (~20%)
• Upper small intestine is the primary site of alcohol absorption (~ 80%)

Until all alcohol consumed has been metabolized (in liver), it circulates throughout the body, affecting the brain and other tissues.
Ø Almost all EtOH is metabolized by liver.
◦ ~5% “unmetabolized” and expired via lungs.
◦ ~5% goes through the kidneys - excreted via urine.
◦ Small percentage also eliminated through sweat, feces, breast milk, saliva.

Liver can only metabolize a limited amount of alcohol per hour.
- Average healthy person can eliminate ~½ ounce of EtOH per hour.
- Metabolism varies between males and females as well as between people.

Look at pg. 6 Final Review Fall 2023

Question 3

What is difference between how men and women metabolize alcohol?

Answer 3

Gender: Women have higher blood alcohol concentrations after consuming the same amount of alcohol as men
◦ Women absorb 30% more alcohol.
◦ Alcohol dehydrogenase is ~40% less active in stomach.
◦ Smaller amounts of water in women’s bodies = ↑ alcohol concentration

Food: presence of food in the stomach slows absorption of alcohol

Question 4

What is the difference between functional and metabolic tolerance? What are the results of developing these tolerances?

Answer 4

Tolerance: the decrease of effectiveness (body getting used) of a drug after a period of prolonged or heavy use

Metabolic tolerance: with continued exposure, alcohol is metabolized at a higher rate.
- Long term exposure to alcohol = ↑ alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver = ↓ peak blood alcohol concentrations (Able to process alcohol more quickly).

Functional tolerance (Ability to function): actual change in sensitivity to a drug.
- Normal chemical and electrical functions of the nerve cells increase to counteract the inhibitory effects of alcohol exposure.
- Increased nerve activity helps chronic alcohol users function normally when they have a higher blood alcohol concentration.
- ↑ irritability, hallucinations, cravings, convulsions when alcohol removed.