© 2006 Thomson-Wadsworth

 Alcohol depresses the secretion of antidiuretic hormone ◦ Increasing urination and water loss  Increasing the body’s reserves of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and zinc

© 2006 Thomson-Wadsworth

 Drink slowly ◦ The liver collects and processes alcohol without its having an effect on other parts of the body  Drink quickly ◦ Some alcohol bypasses the liver and flows through the brain and the rest of the body

© 2006 Thomson-Wadsworth

 The liver metabolizes alcohol ◦ Alcohol dehydrogenase  Breaks down ≈80%+ of the alcohol in the body ◦ MEOS is thought to break down 10% ◦ 10% is excreted through the breath and in the urine

 The more alcohol consumed ◦ the longer the waiting time ◦ the longer alcohol circulates in the body, before alcohol dehydrogenase can break it down

 Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is also made by the stomach ◦ Alcoholics have less in the stomach than others ◦ Females have less in the stomach than males  Woman absorb 1/3 more alcohol than man do ◦ Fasting promotes ADH breakdown

 Alcohol Affects Body Functions ◦ Increased fat synthesis by the liver  Stages of liver deterioration seen in heavy drinkers:  Fatty liver  Fibrosis  Cirrhosis ◦ Depresses production of immune system proteins

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 Speeds up synthesis of blood lipids ◦ Increasing triglyceride concentrations ◦ Increasing HDL concentrations  Increases acid burden and interferes with uric acid metabolism ◦ The consequence of which is gout-like symptoms

 Reproductive system ◦ Women: infertility and spontaneous abortion ◦ Men: suppression of testosterone secretion

 The Fattening Power of Alcohol ◦ The body preferentially stores fat and uses alcohol for energy ◦ Promotes fat storage in the central abdominal area: “beer belly” ◦ 7 calories per gram of alcohol

 The Hangover ◦ Causes:  Congers  Dehydration ◦ Formaldehyde: produced from methanol  The body normally produces and converts methanol into formaldehyde and then into harmless byproducts  The enzymes that detoxify formaldehyde would rather break down acetaldehyde  Produced by the breakdown of alcohol

 Alcohol’s Long-Term Effects ◦ Fetal damage ◦ Alcohol is toxic to cardiac and skeletal muscle ◦ Chronic alcohol use raises blood pressure ◦ Brain cell destruction ◦ Cirrhosis ◦ Cancer: breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, rectum, lungs

 Alcohol’s Long-Term Effects ◦ Bladder, kidney, pancreas damage ◦ Bone deterioration and osteoporosis ◦ Brain disease, CNS damage, strokes ◦ Testicles and adrenal glands deteriorate ◦ Type 2 diabetes ◦ Males: feminization and impotence ◦ Impaired memory and balance ◦ Increased risk of death

 Alcohol’s Long-Term Effects ◦ Malnutrition ◦ Nonviral hepatitis ◦ Severe psychological depression ◦ Skin rashes and sores ◦ Ulcers and inflammation of the stomach and intestines  Alcohol’s Effect on Nutrition ◦ More alcohol  less food consumed  less likely to consume adequate nutrients ◦ Alcohol is empty calories

 Chronic alcohol abuse frequently leads to thiamin deficiency ◦ Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: thiamin deficiency with chronic alcoholism  Paralysis of eye muscles, poor muscle coordination, impaired memory, damaged nerves  May respond to treatment with thiamin supplements  Excess alcohol promotes folate excretion, inhibits its absorption, and interferes with its action

 People treated for alcohol addiction also need nutrition therapy to reverse deficiencies: ◦ Night blindness ◦ Beriberi ◦ Pellagra ◦ Scurvy ◦ Protein-energy malnutrition

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 Does Moderate Alcohol Use Benefit Health? ◦ Young people do not benefit, they increase their risk of dying  Car crashes, homicides, and other violent deaths  Increased breast cancer risk

 Alcohol and Heart Disease ◦ drinks per day reduces the risk on those over 60 years of age who have an increased risk of heart disease  More alcohol than this increases the risk of heart disease ◦ Both wine and beer reduce heart attack risk in some populations

 The Health Effects of Wine ◦ Antioxidant properties ◦ High potassium in both wine and grape juice may lower high blood pressure ◦ Dealcoholized wine promotes the absorption of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc  As does wine, whose alcohol promotes the excretion of these minerals

 Flavonoids, antioxidants in wine, may protect against events that are thought to trigger heart disease ◦ Wine delivers small amounts of antioxidant flavonoids as compared to onions and other vegetables  Alcohol increases oxidation in the body  Dealcoholized wine, purple grape juice, and grapes all contain similar phytochemicals ◦ Without the potential dangers of alcohol