
Alcohol- a substance that has been the foremost thing that comes to mind thinking of luxury dining to having fun. It is undoubtedly known for its post effects, getting drunk. When alcohol starts its show, people lose their ability to think thoroughly, get blurry vision, etc. But how does this happen? Why can a few drops of alcohol have the power to drive people crazy? This, of course, is caused by biochemical reactions and their biological consequences. In this post, we will answer the question, by demonstrating the journey of alcohol in our organism.
Journey In The Liver

It all starts when the little substance, ethanol, enters our blood from the small intestine. Since it is a smaller molecule, it is easier for ethanol to enter the membrane. After entering the blood, the alcohol goes to the organs, especially those consisting of the most flow of blood, the liver, and the brain. At the liver, ethanol undergoes two reactions from two enzymes: ADH and ADLH (Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase). After reacting with the ADH enzyme, alcohol becomes acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), a toxic and cancerogenic substance.
Biochemical reaction: CH3CH2OH + NAD⁺ ———> CH3CHO + NADH + H⁺
Since CH3CHO is a highly reactive molecule, they are rapidly converted to the acetate molecule (CH₃CO₂⁻) by ALDH enzymes. This molecule is much less harmful than acetaldehyde; however, excess acetate also affects several metabolic activities.
Biochemical reaction: CH3CHO + NAD⁺ ——-> CH₃CO₂⁻ + NADH + H⁺
The liver continuously transforms ethanol and eliminates it. Ethanol molecules that pass the liver go to the brain, which is why it determines the drunkness level.
Journey of Alcohol In The Brain and GABA

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutryic Acid) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces nerve responsiveness. It basically blocks the communication between brain cells. As a result, it has a calming effect, decreases anxiety, and makes people lightheaded and happier. Too much GABA can result in a coma. GABA is useful in some treatments, such as ADHD. When GABA activity decreases, it can cause depression and anxiety.
Ethanol increases GABA activity, which we actually know as drunkness. Blocking the transmission between neurons makes people lose the ability to think right and lessens the senses. With increased levels of alcohol and thus GABA, people can have blurry sight, lose some senses, and even be unconscious.
Conclusion

To sum up, alcohol subjugates to several biochemical activities in our bodies. It gets into our vessels, is eliminated in the liver, and increases GABA levels, inhibiting neurotransmission and wasting people. However, the easiness of getting drunk varies from person to person due to how many alcohol molecules can survive liver. Moreover, the harmful effects of alcohol also change; the impact of acetaldehyde severely harms the livers of people with fast ADH but slow ALDH enzymes since it will be hard to deform than form them. Alcohol can be fun in safe dosages, but it is crucial to know that the excess alcohol, thus GABA, can result in a coma.
You can take a look at our other posts in Biology and Chemistry!
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