The human body is able to independently produce alcohol. 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 development of such a substance affect the results of the survey in road traffic accidents? Indeed, the current laws provide for the deprivation of a driver’s license if they detect the smallest concentration of alcohol in the blood.
The production of endogenous alcohol in the blood - what is it? How is insufficient production of a substance reflected in 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 ethyl alcohol, which is produced by the body’s glands in the process of life. He takes part in the adaptation of body tissues to aggressive conditions, acts as a source of energy, 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 quantity decreases in the case of strong negative experiences.
Types of Endogenous Alcohol
There are several varieties of such alcohol:
- Truly endogenous - alcohol, which is produced by the cells of the body in small quantities, regardless of the influence of external stimuli. A particular chemical compound known by the definition of alcohol dehydrogenase is responsible for the production of a substance. The specified catalyst is present in the cells of most organs. Its especially high content is observed in liver tissues. Therefore, this body is considered the main "producer" of endogenous alcohol.
- Conditionally endogenous is formed in the body under the influence of cleavage of certain foods in the digestive tract.
What factors affect the increase in endogenous alcohol in the body?
Endogenous alcohol can be actively released into the blood under the following conditions:
- Diseases According to doctors' studies, diabetics, people with chronic bronchitis, as well as those who have liver and kidney diseases suffer from high blood alcohol levels . In such cases, the maximum concentration of alcohol in the body can reach about 0.4 ppm. However, this indicator is within the permissible norm.
- Food. The active production of ethyl alcohol by the cells of the body can lead to the use of food that does not contain alcohol. It can be kefir, chocolate, kvass, certain vegetables and fruits.
- Mental conditions. 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 shocks.
Endogenous alcohol level
In a calm state in a healthy individual, the concentration of endogenous alcohol in the blood is at a level of not more than 0.01 ppm. In fact, the body is able to produce about 10 grams of pure ethyl alcohol over the course of a day. True, this indicator varies significantly, depending on the impact of a number of factors.
To make up for the daily norm of alcohol, a person just needs to drink 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 norm. If they are not exceeded, a person will not feel symptoms that correspond to the concept of intoxication.
Why is endogenous alcohol required by the body?
Ethyl alcohol, which is produced by body cells:
- Allows the body to quickly adapt to unfamiliar, fairly aggressive environmental factors. Helps withstand stress, overcome moral upheaval in difficult situations.
- It acts as an energy source for body tissues.
- Positive effect on the functioning of the brain and nervous system.
- It contributes to the expansion of blood vessels and, as a result, improves blood flow, accelerated 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.
The 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 producing endogenous alcohol for drivers?
Vehicle owners are that category of people who are extremely important not to exceed the permissible norm of alcohol in the body. In a coincidence, in particular in the case of nervous strain, the use of certain foods, lack of oxygen, the presence of diseases of organs, cells that take part in metabolism, a natural increase in the amount of ethyl alcohol in the blood can be observed. In some situations, the effect is as if a person had recently consumed a glass of vodka. When such cases occur, the driver has to prove that he did not take alcohol.
If a person really did not drink alcohol before driving, during the examination he should not refuse to go to a drug treatment center to perform a special examination. Without doing this right away, it will be extremely difficult to prove your own case later. After the above procedure, you should independently go to a private clinic for an independent blood test. Such actions will become a reliable background for proving one's own innocence during the trial of a traffic accident in court.
What products should be discarded, intending to drive?
The so-called breathalyzer, the use of which law enforcement officers resort to determining the sobriety of drivers, can confirm the excess of the permissible level of alcohol in the blood when used:
- koumiss, non-alcoholic beer can add to the result about 0.4 ppm;
- fermented kefir, yogurt, in combination 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 concentrate in the body when consuming drugs such as corvalol, valoserdin, valerian, motherwort tincture. A problem for the driver can even be the use of tobacco products. As practice shows, one recently smoked cigarette raises blood alcohol levels by as much as 0.2 ppm.
Children of alcohol addicted people
Separately, we should talk about the offspring of alcoholics. Due to hereditary factors, in such individuals there is a lack of endogenous alcohol production 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 the kids 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, children with poor heredity will not succeed in replenishing the necessary norm of ethyl alcohol in the blood by drinking strong drinks. The offspring of alcoholics have to suffer from such metabolic disturbances throughout their lives.
Finally
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 production of endogenous alcohol as the cause of a number of negative phenomena can be expressed, in particular, a decrease in human energy, a slowdown in brain reactions to external stimuli, among other things.
In conclusion, 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, drink it in an amount that adversely affects the state of the body.