Alcohol Metabolism
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Alcohol metabolism involves the conversion of alcohol (ethanol) into less harmful substances within the body. This process primarily occurs in the liver through two stages:
- Ethanol to Acetaldehyde: Alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme in the liver, converts ethanol into acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance.
- Acetaldehyde to Acetate: Acetaldehyde is then converted to acetate by another enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase. Acetate is relatively harmless and is eventually broken down into water and carbon dioxide.
Interestingly, not everyone's body processes alcohol the same way due to genetic variations. Some people have a genetic deficiency in alcohol dehydrogenase or aldehyde dehydrogenase, leading to an accumulation of acetaldehyde, which causes symptoms like facial flushing, nausea, and an increased heart rate 1 2.
Moreover, the microbiome in your gut can significantly affect how you metabolize alcohol. The presence of certain bacteria can influence the amount of acetaldehyde produced, which explains why you might have varying hangover experiences even under similar drinking conditions 3 4.
For some people, products like ZBiotics, which contain genetically modified bacteria that help break down alcohol into vinegar (acetate), can mitigate the toxic effects of acetaldehyde and reduce hangover severity 3.
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