Alcohol and Acetaldehyde in Public Health: From Marvel to Menace

Rui Guo and Jun Ren
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Rui Guo: Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine, University of Wyoming, Laramie, College of Health Sciences, WY 82071, USA
Jun Ren: Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine, University of Wyoming, Laramie, College of Health Sciences, WY 82071, USA

IJERPH, 2010, vol. 7, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: alcohol; acetaldehyde; metabolism; human health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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