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Posted: **Thu Nov 22, 2007 7:07 am**

How the Body Processes Alcohol

Most alcohol is absorbed from the stomach, where only a small amount is broken down or metabolized. The alcohol next passes through the liver where it is broken down by an enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenase to a compound called acetaldehyde.

Acetaldehyde causes some of the unpleasant effects of alcohol, such as
flushing, nausea, and vomiting. Acetaldehyde is subsequently broken down by aldehyde dehydrogenase to acetone, which is eliminated in the breath (the smell of alcohol on the breath), urine, and sweat. People with low levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase have a condition common in some individuals of Asian origin, which is characterized by flushing or feeling ill after drinking only small amounts of alcohol. Not all of the alcohol is broken down in the liver during its first pass. Some of the alcohol reaches the brain. The effects of alcohol on the brain are well-appreciated by most people. Eventually, all of the alcohol is eliminated from the body.

In people who drink heavily and on a regular basis, alcohol stimulates an alternative metabolic pathway in the liver (mixed-function oxidase enzymes). Metabolism of alcohol via this pathway may make conditions
adverse for liver cells. Stimulation of this alternative metabolic pathway
is also one reason why alcohol-dependent people have to drink more to get drunk. Tolerance to alcohol also develops because chronic heavy drinkers learn how to behave better while drunk and their brains need to see higher concentrations of alcohol to be affected.

Posted: **Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:29 pm**

The effect of the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme is impaired by aspirin. Take aspirin and you'll be drunker for longer (with a blood alcohol level about 25% higher than if you hadn't popped your pill). Booze and aspirin can also increase your risk of liver disease.

Posted: **Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:08 pm**

Rocky_Creek wrote:Acetaldehyde is subsequently broken down by aldehyde dehydrogenase to acetone, which is eliminated in the breath (the smell of alcohol on the breath), urine, and sweat.

This is not correct.

Code: Select all

from "How Alcohol Works"
by Craig C. Freudenrich, Ph.D.

How Alcohol Leaves the Body
Once absorbed by the bloodstream, the alcohol leaves the body in three ways:

    * The kidney eliminates 5 percent of alcohol in the urine.
    * The lungs exhale 5 percent of alcohol, which can be detected by breathalyzer devices.
    * The liver chemically breaks down the remaining alcohol into acetic acid. 

As a rule of thumb, an average person can eliminate 0.5 oz (15 ml) of alcohol per hour. So, it would take approximately one hour to eliminate the alcohol from a 12 oz (355 ml) can of beer.

The Breakdown of Alcohol
The breakdown, or oxidation, of ethanol occurs in the liver. An enzyme in the liver called alcohol dehydrogenase strips electrons from ethanol to form acetaldehyde. Another enzyme, called aldehyde dehydrogenase, converts the acetaldehyde, in the presence of oxygen, to acetic acid, the main component in vinegar. The molecular structure of acetic acid looks like this:
       O
      ||
H3 C - C - O - H
The || symbol is a double bond between the atoms. When ethanol is oxidized to acetic acid, two protons and two electrons are also produced. The acetic acid can be used to form fatty acids or can be further broken down into carbon dioxide and water.

I just wanted to make sure we are not starting any rumors that might alarm the less studied ones.

Posted: **Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:48 am**

Naw, I didn't write it. I got it off the internet the same way you did. Now whose site is correct? I ain't gonna argue about it.

Posted: **Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:23 pm**

Yeah, who cares? I'm only in it for the dopamine, endorphins and risky behaviour, not the learnin'.

Posted: **Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:50 am**

lowerarchy wrote:Yeah, who cares? I'm only in it for the dopamine, endorphins and risky behaviour, not the learnin'.

+1

Posted: **Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:51 am**

acetone is a three carbon ketone.
ethanol is a two carbon alcohol.

there'd be some magic there to make an extra carbon come from nowhere.

acetone is not a metabolite of ethanol. acetaldehyde is.

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