1. Alcohol

2. The character of alcohol Ethanol The alcohol in beer, wine, spirits Methanol Wood alcohol — poisonous Is alcohol a nutrient? Provides energy 7 kcal/g No other nutritive value Photo © PhotoDisc

3. Alcohol and Its Sources Fermentation Yeast cells metabolize sugar to make alcohol Alcoholic beverages Beer: 5 – 6% alcohol Wine: 8 – 14% alcohol Liquor: 35 – 45% alcohol “ Proof ” is twice the alcohol percentage Photo © PhotoDisc

4. What Is a Drink?

5. Alcohol Absorption No digestion required Absorbed from mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine Absorption slowed by food

6. Alcohol Metabolism Small amounts of alcohol Alcohol dehydrogenase Alcohol  acetaldehyde Aldehyde dehydrogenase Acetaldehyde  acetate Acetaldehyde, acetate converted to acetyl CoA Acetyl CoA molecules built into fatty acids

7. Alcohol Metabolism Large amount of alcohol Overwhelms alcohol dehydrogenase system Uses microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system (MEOS)

8. Alcohol Metabolism Removing alcohol from circulation Liver metabolism limited Blood alcohol level falls slowly Individual differences in rate of alcohol metabolism Gender Race/ethnicity Age Graph source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

9. Alcohol Metabolism: Gender Differences © Edyta Powlowska/ShutterStock, Inc.

10. When Alcohol Becomes a Problem Alcohol in the brain and nervous system Depressant; affects all parts of brain Alcohol ’ s effect on GI system Esophagitis and gastritis

11. When Alcohol Becomes a Problem Alcohol and the liver Fatty liver Fibrosis Cirrhosis Fetal alcohol syndrome Physical abnormalities Mental retardation Low birth weight and poor growth

13. Alcoholics and Malnutrition Poor diet Alcohol provides energy but no nutrients Economic factors Lack of interest in food; GI problems Vitamin deficiencies Alcohol interferes with vitamin metabolism Folate, thiamin, and vitamin A

14. Alcoholics and Malnutrition Mineral deficiencies Inadequate diet; fluid losses Calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc Some mineral levels are elevated Macronutrients Alcohol interferes with amino acid absorption Alcohol raises blood levels of fats Body weight Inconsistent effect of alcohol calories on weight

15. Does Alcohol Have Benefits? Moderate drinking has been associated with reduced mortality Heart disease French paradox: red wine Photo © PhotoDisc

16. Harmful Effects

17. Alcohol People who should not consume alcohol Those who cannot moderate their intake Children and adolescents Those taking certain medications Those with illnesses worsened by alcohol Those who drive or operate machinery Pregnant or breastfeeding women Those with a strong family history of alcoholism

18. Energy Drinks Background Health risks To ban or not to ban?