Chapter 7, Problem 1ACTQ

If body organs could talk, what might some of them say to alcohol about its role in metabolism and disease development?

Summary Introduction

To determine: If body organ could talk, what might some of them say about the role of alcohol in metabolism and disease development.

Concept introduction:

Alcohol is an organic compound consists of the functional group (-OH). It is the end product of the fermentation and produced from cereals, grains, potatoes, fruits, and carbohydrate foods. It is mainly present in the alcoholic beverages include beer, wine, and liquor. Severe alcohol drinking leads to nervous disorder, various cancers, impotence in sexual characters, and multiple organ failure eventually ends up in the death of the individual.

Explanation of Solution

Role of alcohol in metabolism:

The alcohol affects all the organs of the body. Mostly, it impairs the liver and affects the metabolism of protein and amino acids. If the liver cells could talk, it would say that alcohol is egocentric, demanding, and disrupts the efficiency of the liver cells. For example, liver cells use fatty acids as the energy or fuel and convert the excessive amount of fatty acids into the triglycerides. If the alcohol is present in the liver cells, it would undergo metabolism of the alcohol which would lead to the accumulation of the fatty acids. This metabolism of alcohol changes the structure of the liver cells and reduces the fat metabolism.

Roles of alcohol in disease development:

1. 1. Alcohol consumption will develop diseases including infertility, liver disease, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, cancer, arthritis, and bone loss.
2. 2. If the liver is damaged, then the liver cells would loss the efficiency for activating vitamin D and releasing the bile.
3. 3. Alcohol consumption can develop psychological disturbances that cause anxiety, insomnia, and depression.
4. 4. Nerve disorders also develop by alcohol consumption that causes neuropathy dementia, and cirrhosis.
5. 5. Excess consumption of alcohol results in obesity that increases the energy intake.