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Metabolic consequences of alcohol dependency
V R Preedy1, T J Peters, H Why
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
Adverse Drug Reactions and Toxicological Reviews
|June 3, 1998
Summary
Alcohol dependency causes widespread biochemical and cellular changes, impacting nearly every organ system. This review focuses on alcohol
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
- Physiology
Background:
- Alcohol dependency induces significant biochemical adaptations and morphological changes.
- Ethanol exposure affects virtually all organ systems, altering numerous metabolic pathways.
- These effects range from metabolic fuel utilization to severe tissue and cellular damage, increasing morbidity and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the multifaceted effects of alcohol toxicity.
- To focus on specific areas including nutrition and protein metabolism in key organs.
- To illustrate the diverse mechanisms by which alcohol impacts the body.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on alcohol's biochemical and morphological effects.
- Selective focus on nutrition and protein metabolism in the liver and bone.
- Consideration of effects on skeletal muscle and the gastrointestinal tract.
Main Results:
- Alcohol dependency results in adaptive and destructive biochemical and morphological changes.
- Ethanol utilization as a metabolic fuel can coexist with significant tissue damage.
- Widespread alterations in metabolic pathways across multiple organ systems are observed.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol toxicity profoundly affects the body through diverse biochemical and cellular alterations.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for addressing alcohol-related health issues.
- The review highlights key areas of impact, particularly in liver and bone metabolism.