Alcohol

About Alcohol

Alcohol, or ethanol, is not a nutrient but is widely consumed and provides 7 calories per gram. The liver metabolizes it at a limited rate through alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, CYP2E1, which is induced by chronic drinking, and catalase. Its first metabolite, acetaldehyde, is toxic and carcinogenic. Dietary guidelines define a standard drink by its ethanol content and advise that adults who drink do so in moderation. Chronic heavy drinking causes fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, as well as pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, neuropathy and dementia. Alcohol is a recognized cause of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast and colon. Thiamine deficiency in heavy drinkers can cause Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome. Drinking during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, including fetal alcohol syndrome. The World Health Organization states that no level of alcohol consumption is safe with respect to cancer risk.