Question

Describe the role of ethanol in cellular energy supply, the metabolism of ethanol (alcohol), the regulation of its metabolism and the disease conditions associated with its metabolism especially - hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, hepatic steatosis, Vitamin deficiency, and acetaldehyde toxicity (you should feel free to discuss other diseases that are directly related to ethanol metabolism)

Answer 1

Ethanol is an organic compound which is readily metabolised in the body. Less than 10% is eliminated from the body. Most of it is carried to liver where the ethanol is metabolised causing lot of damage to liver tissue.

Main path way is converting alcohol in to acetaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. It is an oxidative process where NAD takes up hyrogen and gets converted in to NADH. Excess production of NADH in the cytosol will result in higher lactate/pyruvate ratio. The acetaldehyde generated is converted in to acetate by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. of the liver. Both acetaldehyde and acetate are released in to the blood stream. More acetaldehyde in liver mitochondria leads decreased beta oxidation of fatty acids. Excess alcohol consumption associated with low glucose intake causes causes ketoacidosis. Symptoms include abdomenal pain, vomiting, fater respiratory rate sometimes even sudden death. Excess alcohol consumption also related to ketoacidosis.

Lactic acidosis caused due to excess lactic acid causes reduced uric acid elimination from kidneys causing secondary uremia. Carbohydrate metabolism also is impaired due to reduced gluconeogenesis. This leads to hypoglycemia.

Reduced oxidation and retention of fats in the liver causes accumulation of triglycerides in liver leading to fatty liver syndrome called Steasis. Liver becomes a store house for fats instead of metabolically active.

Vitamins such as B1, B12, Vitamin A, Folic acid are depleted due to excess alcohol consumption.