Alcohol and Acetaldehyde in Public Health: From Marvel to Menace

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Rui Guo¹ 

[1] Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine, University of Wyoming, Laramie, College of Health Sciences, WY 82071, USA; E-Mail

关键词: alcohol;    acetaldehyde;    metabolism;    human health;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph7041285

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Alcohol abuse is a serious medical and social problem. Although light to moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial to cardiovascular health, heavy drinking often results in organ damage and social problems. In addition, genetic susceptibility to the effect of alcohol on cancer and coronary heart disease differs across the population. A number of mechanisms including direct the toxicity of ethanol, its metabolites [e.g., acetaldehyde and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs)] and oxidative stress may mediate alcoholic complications. Acetaldehyde, the primary metabolic product of ethanol, is an important candidate toxin in developing alcoholic diseases. Meanwhile, free radicals produced during ethanol metabolism and FAEEs are also important triggers for alcoholic damages.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.