Alcohol is a foreign element in the human metabolism, and when it gets inside, the body begins to fight hard and produce enzymes aimed at splitting and removing it outside. The action of these substances also causes a feeling of intoxication. So which enzymes break down alcohol?
Which enzymes break down alcoholic beverages
When alcohol enters the body, the production of special enzymes begins, contributing to its removal. These enzymes that break down alcohol include alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ACDH). First of all, the synthesis of ADH begins, which is responsible for the breakdown of ethanol. The result is elements that do no harm. And with the formation of acetaldehyde, which has a high toxicity, the synthesis of ACDH starts. The severity of damage to internal organs depends on how quickly the enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde is synthesized.
Alcohol dehydrogenase has the ability to destroy ethanol with a strength level of 57% with a volume of 28.9 grams in 1 hour. This enzyme is produced by the cells of the liver and stomach. However, the liver produces much more of it.
Ethanol splitting steps
When ethanol enters the body, the liver immediately begins to produce enzymes that break down alcohol, and starts the process of assimilation. It happens in three stages:
- Breakdown of ethanol to acetaldehyde and substances that do not harm internal organs.
- Conversion of acetaldehyde to acetic acid.
- Decomposition of the resulting acid into carbon dioxide and water.
How ethanol is broken down
In men, the processing of alcohol begins already in the stomach, so a much smaller amount of ethanol reaches the small intestine, where it is absorbed. This may explain the fact that, in general, men require more alcohol to achieve a state of intoxication. In the female body, the stomach produces less of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol, so more alcohol reaches the small intestine.
Under the condition of normal metabolism, in humans, the process of splitting ethanol ends with the breakdown of acetaldehyde into water and carbon dioxide, with the release of seven calories per gram of alcohol, which are accumulated or spent on the needs of the body. About 5% of alcohol consumed is excreted in sweat and urine, as well as when breathing.
For how much timecomplete splitting occurs
The speed of sobering up depends on the amount of the produced liver enzyme that breaks down alcohol - alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. Acceleration of this process is impossible even with the help of stimulants, such as coffee. In addition, drugs intended for sobering up only help to get rid of the symptoms of alcohol intoxication, but do not solve the main problem.
The rate of assimilation of alcohol also depends on the frequency of drinking alcohol - the less often a person uses them, the faster the splitting occurs. With frequent abuse, increased production of ADH is observed, which accelerates the processing of ethanol, which contributes to the accumulation of acetaldehyde. But the amount of ACDH produced will not change, as a result of which the body does not have time to process all the acetaldehyde, which is why the latter breaks down slowly. This situation contributes to severe intoxication, which harms all internal organs.
Harm caused by accumulation of acetaldehyde
First of all, the accumulation affects the liver, then acetaldehyde has a negative effect on brain activity and the state of the nervous system, resulting in mental disorders. Also, the action of a toxic substance does not bypass the gastrointestinal tract, which causes nausea and digestive disorders. The impact on the cardiovascular system is expressed in the appearance of arrhythmias, heart attacks and high blood pressure.
Which products can speed upenzyme production process
The synthesis of enzymes that break down alcohol occurs in each organism at a different rate, taking into account individual characteristics of functioning. However, it can be stimulated by taking some foods, which include:
- citrus;
- mineral water;
- cucumber pickle;
- fruits (apples, grapes, bananas);
- tea;
- potato;
- watermelon;
- walnuts;
- milk;
- cucumbers.
Products from this list have a rich supply of vitamins that can compensate for what was wasted due to drinking alcohol.
In addition, you can resort to physical activity to help the process of sobering up. To do this, you can do a run for a couple of kilometers, do push-ups, pull yourself up. Pumping the press in this case will not help, because it does not affect the metabolic processes in the body.
The withdrawal of alcohol during training loads will be carried out along with the release of sweat.
This is interesting
- Despite the fact that alcohol dehydrogenase (the name of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol) performs only the function of breaking down ethanol, it is also produced in other mammals. This fact can be explained by the fact that the bacteria contained in the gastrointestinal tract secrete a small amount of ethyl alcohol.
- A person may be allergic to alcohol due to genetic mutations, resulting in insufficientthe amount or complete absence of an enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the body. It manifests itself as reddening of the skin and increased body temperature due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde.
- Representatives of northern peoples, due to their nutritional habits and the synthesis of enzymes that break down alcohol, get drunk faster than other peoples, but they also get sobered up very quickly, so they will need more alcohol to reach the stage of intoxication.
Drinking alcohol has a different effect on each person, it depends on the general condition of the body, its individual characteristics and the rate of production of alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes. Therefore, do not forget that the abuse of alcohol-containing drinks can harm a person, and it is better to observe the measure.
