The human body is capable of producing alcohol on its own. Ethanol, which is produced in our bodies as a result of complex biochemical reactions, is known as endogenous alcohol. The specified substance in the largest quantities is concentrated in the lung and liver tissues. To a small extent, endogenous alcohol is also present in other structures of the body.
Many motorists are interested in the question, can the active production of such a substance affect the results of the examination in case of traffic accidents? After all, current laws provide for the deprivation of a driver's license upon detection of the slightest concentration of alcohol in the blood.
Production of endogenous blood alcohol - what is it? How does insufficient production of a substance affect the state of the body? We will try to answer these and other questions later in the article.
Endogenous alcohol - what is it?
In short, endogenous alcohol is called ethyl alcohol, which is produced by the glands of the body in the process of life. It takes part in the adaptation of body tissues to aggressive conditions, acts as a source of energy, and makes it easier to overcome stressful situations.
As the results of special studies show, endogenous alcohol in the body is actively produced in positive emotional states. On the contrary, its amount decreases in case of strong negative experiences.
Types of endogenous alcohol
There are several varieties of such alcohol:
- True endogenous - alcohol, which is produced by the cells of the body in small quantities, regardless of the influence of external stimuli. A special chemical compound, known as alcohol dehydrogenase, is responsible for the production of the substance. This catalyst is present in the cells of most organs. Especially its high content is observed in liver tissues. Therefore, this organ is considered the main "producer" of endogenous alcohol.
- Conditionally endogenous is formed in the body under the influence of cleavage in the digestive tract of certain foods.
What factors affect the increase in the level of endogenous alcohol in the body?
Endogenous alcohol can be actively released into the blood under the following conditions:
- Diseases. According to medical research, diabetics, people with chronic bronchitis, and those who have diseases suffer from high blood alcohol levels.liver and kidneys. In such cases, the maximum concentration of alcohol in the body can reach about 0.4 ppm. However, the specified indicator is within the acceptable range.
- Food. The consumption of food that does not contain alcohol can lead to the active production of ethyl alcohol by the cells of the body. It can be kefir, chocolate, kvass, certain vegetables and fruits.
- Mental states. As noted earlier, positive and negative experiences activate chemical reactions that form endogenous alcohol in the human body. However, scientists have not yet been able to accurately determine the dependence of the production of ethyl alcohol in quantitative terms, based on the nature of certain emotional upheavals.
Endogenous alcohol level
In a calm state in a he althy individual, the concentration of endogenous alcohol in the blood is at a level of no more than 0.01 ppm. In fact, the body is able to produce about 10 grams of pure ethyl alcohol during the day. True, this figure varies significantly, depending on the impact of a number of factors.
To replenish the daily norm of alcohol, a person needs only half a glass of beer, about 30 ml of vodka, 800 ml of kvass, 120 ml of wine or 1.5 liters of kefir. These gradients fall under the concept of a norm. If they are not exceeded, the person will not feel the symptoms that correspond to the concept of intoxication.
Why does the body need endogenous alcohol?
Ethyl alcohol produced by body cells:
- Allows the body to quickly adapt to unfamiliar, rather aggressive environmental factors. Helps to resist stress, overcome moral shocks in difficult situations.
- Serves as a source of energy for body tissues.
- Good for the functioning of the brain and nervous system.
- Promotes vasodilation and, as a result, improves blood flow, accelerates the supply of cells with nutrients.
- Provides activation of metabolic processes.
- Participates in the production of endorphins - the so-called hormones of happiness.
- Increases the ability of cells to withstand negative factors in pathological conditions.
Lack of production of endogenous alcohol as a cause of malfunctions in the body is expressed by a violation of its production by body cells and can adversely affect the course of the above processes.
What is the danger of endogenous alcohol production for drivers?
Vehicle owners are the category of people for whom it is extremely important not to exceed the permitted amount of alcohol in the body. Under a confluence of circumstances, in particular, in the case of nervous overstrain, the use of certain foods, lack of oxygen, the presence of diseases of organs, cells that are involved in metabolism, a natural increase in the amount of ethyl alcohol in the blood can be observed. ATin some situations, the effect is observed, as if a person had recently consumed a glass of vodka. In such cases, the driver has to prove that he did not take alcohol.
If a person really did not drink alcohol before getting behind the wheel, during the examination, he should not refuse to go to the drug treatment center for a special examination. Without doing this right away, it will be extremely difficult to prove one's own innocence later. After the above procedure, you should go to a private clinic on your own for an independent blood test. Such actions will become a reliable background for proving one's own innocence in the trial of a traffic accident in court.
What foods should you give up if you want to drive?
The so-called breathalyzer, which law enforcement officers use to determine the sobriety of drivers, can confirm the excess of the permissible level of alcohol in the blood when consumed:
- koumiss, non-alcoholic beer can add about 0.4 ppm to the result;
- fermented kefir, yogurt, combined with vegetables or fruits - about 0.2 ppm;
- confectionery with cognac – 0.4 ppm;
- bread kvass - from 0.3 to 0.6 ppm;
- chocolate - about 0.1 ppm;
- a sandwich made from black bread and sausage - 0.2 ppm.
Endogenous, exogenous alcohol can be concentrated in the body when using suchmedicines like corvalol, valoserdin, valerian, motherwort tincture. Even the use of tobacco products can become a problem for the driver. As practice shows, one recently smoked cigarette increases the level of alcohol in the blood by as much as 0.2 ppm.
Children of alcohol addicts
Separately, we should talk about the offspring of alcoholics. Due to hereditary factors, such individuals lack the production of endogenous alcohol in the body. The pathological phenomenon can be explained by the development of abnormal processes in the mother's womb, in particular, a significant slowdown in metabolic processes.
The consequences of such changes are often manifested by insufficient activity of babies in the physical, mental, social spheres of activity. Children of alcoholics often suffer from stress, feel emotional weakness along with their peers.
It is noteworthy that in the future it will not be possible to replenish the required rate of ethyl alcohol in the blood by drinking strong drinks for children with poor heredity. The offspring of alcoholics have to suffer from such metabolic disorders throughout their lives.
In closing
As you can see, the body of any person, even an absolute teetotaler, always contains a small amount of ethyl alcohol. Naturally, the substance is produced in such small quantities that it does not lead to intoxication. In turn, the lack of endogenous alcohol productionas the cause of a number of negative phenomena, can be expressed, in particular, by reducing a person’s energy, slowing down the reactions of the brain to external stimuli, etc.
Finally, it is worth noting that the vast majority of people do not suffer from a deficiency of endogenous alcohol in the blood. Therefore, it is worth considering whether it makes sense to lean on alcohol, to use it in an amount that adversely affects the state of the body.
