Alcohol is a foreign element in the metabolism of a person, and when it gets inside, the body begins to struggle intensively and produce enzymes aimed at breaking down and eliminating it. The action of these substances also causes a feeling of intoxication. So which enzymes break down alcohol?
What enzymes break down alcohol-containing drinks?
When alcohol enters the body, the development of special enzymes begins that contribute to its withdrawal. Alcohol-degrading enzymes include alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ADHD). 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 is highly toxic, 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% in 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 it many times more.
Ethanol digestion steps
When ethanol enters the body, the liver immediately begins to produce enzymes that break down alcohol, and starts the assimilation process. It takes place in three stages:
- The breakdown of ethanol to acetaldehyde and substances that are not harmful to internal organs.
- The conversion of acetaldehyde to acetic acid.
- The decomposition of acid obtained into carbon dioxide and water.
How is ethanol cleaved?
In men, alcohol processing begins already in the stomach, so a much smaller amount of ethanol reaches the small intestine, where it is absorbed. This can explain the fact that, basically, men need more alcohol to reach a state of intoxication. In the female body, the stomach produces less enzyme that breaks down alcohol, so a larger amount of alcohol reaches the small intestine.
Under the condition of normal metabolism, in a person the process of ethanol breakdown ends with the breakdown of acetaldehyde into water and carbon dioxide with the release of seven calories from one gram of alcohol, which accumulate or are spent on the needs of the body. About 5% of alcohol consumed is excreted in sweat and urine, as well as in breathing.
How much time does complete cleavage take place
The rate 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 stimulants, such as coffee. In addition, medications intended for sobering only help get rid of the symptoms of intoxication, but do not solve the main problem.
The rate of absorption of alcohol also depends on the frequency of drinking alcohol - the less often a person consumes them, the faster 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 produced ADHD does not change, as a result of which the body does not have time to process all acetaldehyde, which is why the latter is broken down slowly. This situation contributes to severe intoxication, which harms all internal organs.
Acetaldehyde Accumulation Harm
First of all, accumulation is reflected in the liver, then acetaldehyde has a negative effect on brain activity and the state of the nervous system, as a result of which mental disorders can occur. Also, the effect of the toxic substance does not bypass the gastrointestinal tract, which is the cause of nausea and digestive disorders. The effect on the cardiovascular system is expressed in the appearance of arrhythmia, heart attacks and high blood pressure.
What foods can speed up the production of enzymes
The synthesis of enzymes that break down alcohol occurs in each organism at a different rate, taking into account the individual characteristics of functioning. However, it can be stimulated by taking certain products, which include:
- citrus;
- mineral water;
- pickle pickle;
- fruits (apples, grapes, bananas);
- tea;
- potatoes;
- watermelon;
- walnuts;
- milk;
- cucumbers.
Products from this list have a rich supply of vitamins that can compensate for what was wasted due to alcohol.
In addition, you can resort to physical activity to help the sobering process. To do this, you can jog for a couple of kilometers, push ups, pull yourself up. Pumping the press in this case will not help, since it does not affect the metabolic processes in the body.
Withdrawal of alcohol during training loads will be carried out along with the release of sweat.
It is interesting
- Despite the fact that alcohol dehydrogenase (the name of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol) performs only the function of splitting 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 an insufficient or complete absence of an enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the body. It manifests itself as redness of the skin and increased body temperature due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde.
- Due to the peculiarities of nutrition and the synthesis of enzymes that break down alcohol, representatives of northern peoples get drunk faster than other peoples, but their sobering process is very fast, 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 the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. Therefore, do not forget that the abuse of alcohol-containing drinks can harm a person, and it is better to observe the measure.