How Your Body Breaks Down Alcohol

Alcohol, a staple in many social settings, undergoes a fascinating and complex journey once it enters your body. This post delves into the biochemistry of how your body processes ethanol, commonly known as ethyl alcohol. Understanding this process is key to appreciating both the effects of alcohol and the strategies for mitigating its less desirable after-effects.

The Journey Begins: Absorption

The path of alcohol through your body begins with ingestion. Approximately 20% of the alcohol is absorbed directly through the stomach lining, especially when the stomach is empty. The remaining alcohol moves into the small and large intestines (collectively referred to as the gut), where it's absorbed into the bloodstream. The presence of food in the stomach can slow this absorption process, moderating the rate at which alcohol enters your system.

Alcohol Metabolism: A Two-Stage Process

Once in the bloodstream, alcohol travels to the liver, where the majority of its metabolism occurs. The breakdown of alcohol happens in two primary stages, each mediated by specialised enzymes:

• Stage 1: Alcohol to Acetaldehyde - Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) catalyses the first reaction, where alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde. This process involves removing electrons and hydrogen atoms from the alcohol molecule.

• Stage 2: Acetaldehyde to Acetate - In the second stage, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) takes over, converting acetaldehyde to acetate. This step involves removing another set of electrons, allowing water to bond with acetaldehyde and form acetate, a harmless molecule akin to vinegar.

The Role of the Liver and Gut

While the liver is the primary site for alcohol metabolism, producing sufficient amounts of both ADH and ALDH, a small amount of alcohol is also metabolised in the gut before it gets absorbed. This is due to the action of gut microbiome-produced alcohol dehydrogenase. However, unlike the liver, these microbes only perform the first step of the process, converting alcohol to acetaldehyde without further processing it to acetate. This results in higher concentrations of acetaldehyde in the gut, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Acetaldehyde: The Culprit Behind Hangovers

Acetaldehyde is a toxic compound that can cause significant discomfort, contributing to the hangover symptoms many experience after heavy drinking. While the liver efficiently converts most of the alcohol it processes to acetate, the acetaldehyde produced in the gut can accumulate, leading to higher systemic levels of this harmful compound.

Health Implications

The accumulation of acetaldehyde during alcohol metabolism can cause short-term effects like nausea and headaches, as well as longer-term consequences such as liver damage and increased cancer risk. Chronic alcohol consumption can lead to the development of tolerance, where the body requires increasing amounts of alcohol to achieve the same effects, potentially leading to dependence and addiction.

In Summary

Understanding the biochemical process of alcohol metabolism sheds light on why moderation is key and why certain practices, like eating before drinking, can be beneficial. It also highlights the importance of supporting your body's natural metabolic processes, especially through products such as Tend-2 that are designed to aid in this process.