Alcohol and Nutrition

Beverages

Brain

Absorption

Liver

Liver Deterioration

Excretion

Metabolism

Quiz

Malnutrition

Nutrition Facts

Short-term Effects

Long-term Effects

University Use

Alcohol in Beverages

Each of these

servings equals one

drink

Alcohol in the Stomach

• 20% absorbed immediately in empty stomach

• Food slows absorption

• Enzyme: Alcohol Dehydrogenase- decreases amount of alcohol entering the blood by 20%

Alcohol in the Liver• Processes one

drink per hour or ½ oz. of ethanol

• Alcohol makes the biggest impact on the liver

NAD+ NADH + H+ NAD+ NADH + H+

Alcohol (ethanol) Alcohol

dehydrogenaseAcetaldehyde

dehydrogenase

Acetaldehyde Acetate Acetyl CoA

CoA

Alcohol Metabolism

•High concentration of acetaldehyde to brain and other tissues are responsible for many of the damaging effects

Liver Deterioration1. Fatty Liver

– Accumulation of fat

2. Fibrosis– Cells:

• lose their function • characteristics of

connective tissue cells

3. Cirrhosis– Cells:

• die• permanently lose their

function

Cirrhosis

Excretion of Alcohol• Alcohol is not

digested nor chemically changed in the blood stream

• Amount of alcohol in breath and urine proportional to amount still in bloodstream

Alcohol’s Effects on the Brain

• 0.05- Impaired judgment, relaxed inhibitions, altered heart rate• 0.10- Impaired coordination, delayed reaction time, exaggerated

emotions, impaired peripheral vision, impaired ability to operate a vehicle

• 0.15- Slurred speech, blurred vision, staggered walk, seriously impaired coordination and judgment

• 0.20- Double vision, inability to walk• 0.30- Uninhibited behavior, confusion, inability to

comprehend• 0.40 to 0.60- Unconsciousness, shock, coma, death

(cardiac or respiratory failure)

Nutrition Facts• Contributes to fat

storage in central region aka “Beer Belly”

• 7 kcal/gram• Recommendation: Not

more than two drinks/day for average-size man; one drink/day for average-size woman

Alcohol & Malnutrition• Primary Malnutrition-

alcohol displaces food

• Secondary Malnutrition-alcohol interferes with digestion and absorption of nutrients

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome- Thiamin deficiency

Alcohol’s Short-Term Effects

• Binge Drinking (4+ or 5+ drinks)

– Alcohol Poisoning• Alcohol consumption:

– Suicide (33%)– Homicide (50%)– Accidents (50%)

• DE (2002) DE (2007)-> 51 fatalities 19 fatalities

– Violence (Robbery, rape, assault)– Victim of crime– Injury (falls, drownings, fire)

Alcohol’s Long-Term Effects

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Liver Disease

• Kidney Disease

• Heart Disease

• Cancer

University Use• Students drink 4 billion cans of beer yearly• 360,000 of 12 million undergraduates will

die from alcohol-related causes while in school

• Nearly ½ of college students are binge drinkers

• Average student spends $900 per year on alcohol (books $450/year)

1. What is considered one drink?A. 10 oz. beerB. 6 oz. glass of wineC. 1 ½ oz. hard liquorD. 8 oz. wine cooler

2. What is Delaware’s Blood Alcohol Concentration Limit?A. .20B. .05C. .10D. .08

3. What is the approximate BAC when a person has slurred speech, staggered walk & blurred vision? A. .30 B. .15 C. .10 D. .05

Answers: 1. C 2. D 3. B

Quiz