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FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 170

Wine and Beer in Western Culture

Lecture Outline

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Lecture 3 Alcohol and health

• Objectives

– Examine + and - aspects of alcohol consumption

– List reasons for drinking alcohol

– Discuss gender differences in alcohol metabolism

– Differentiate between acute and chronic alcohol effects

– Describe alcohol effects on physical performance

Definitions

• Alcoholic liver cirrhosis - disease of liver resulting in permanent damage and death caused by long-term excess alcohol consumption.

• Fetal alcohol syndrome - central nervous system and facial abnormalities in a fetus which may occur when a mother drinks alcohol during a pregnancy.

• Inebriation (drunkenness) - acute loss of faculties in response to alcohol consumption. Symptoms disappear once alcohol is cleared from system.

Perceptions of drinking in societies

• Wide cultural/social norms as to what is responsible vs problem drinking

• Even within cultures such as the USA, there is divergence of opinion

• Reason to drink alcohol fall into several categories: Social, Ritualistic, Dietary, Altered state of consciousness, Solve problems/escape

Alcohol use in ancient times

• Beer and wine formed an important part of the diet

– Contained calories and essential vitamins & minerals

– Much safer than water

– Lower in alcohol (2-3%) so less dehydrating and inebriating

• Also, Basis of medicinal treatments, Important in religious/cultural rituals, and Dulled edge of difficult existence

Advantages and disadvantages of alcohol use today

• Advantages: Better cardiovascular health, Improved blood vessel function, Value in religious systems, Social interactions at low to moderate use levels

• Disadvantages: Fetal alcohol syndrome, Driving related problems and violence, Alcoholism, Increased risk for various diseases (Many types of cancer), Interaction with several medications, even OTC drugs

Alcohol as food

• Most of the calories in wine & beer come from alcohol

– Residual sugar in wine and residual starch in beer

• Alcohol has 7 kcal/gm - more than carbohydrates but less than fats

• Could contribute substantial portion of calories for some, leaving them without other essential nutrients

• Several micronutrients in wine (and maybe beer) that play an overall role in health such as antioxidants and resveratrol in grapes

Digestion and absorption of alcohol

• Absorbed into the body mostly in the upper small intestine

• Metabolized by the liver

• Rate at which alcohol get into the small intestine is determined by rate of stomach emptying -- Food (especially fats) in the stomach delays its emptying

• Concentration of alcohol in the blood depends on

– How fast alcohol gets to the small intestine

– How rapidly the liver digests alcohol

– How much lean body mass there is (thus male/female difference)

– Level of hydration (since alcohol distributes to "water layer")

Physiological effects of ethanol

• Depressant - May interact with other depressants such as barbiturates, tranquilizers and anti-histamines

• Dehydrating agent

• May magnify effects of NSAIDS on the stomach

• Acute effects: Stomach, Liver, Brain/motor skills

• Chronic effects: Liver, Heart, Brain, Sexual function/impotence

Effects at various blood alcohol levels (gm/100ml blood)

• .05 warmth, skin flushing, decreased inhibition, mild intoxication

• .1 intoxication, impaired judgment and motor skills, slowed reflexes, difficulty paying attention

• .15 obvious intoxication, slurred speech, altered comprehension

• .25 extreme intoxication, vomiting, sleepiness, unresponsive, incontinence

• .35 lowered body temp, lowered blood pressure, respiratory depression, coma

• .5 death likely even with ventilator support and dialysis

• .08 is the Ohio State Blood Alcohol Limit (2004)

Potential effects of cardiovascular system

• French paradox: Low coronaries despite high fat diet

• J curve is a plot of 10 year mortality/1000 pop

Shows higher death rate for non-drinkers than for light to moderate drinkers

• Substantiated by over 400 studies

• Could be alcohol itself or some component in alcoholic beverages

• Probably some combination of factors

• Alcoholics have little vascular plaque (often severe damage to heart muscle)

• Could be due to

– Sterilant action of alcohol (but not all alcohol is equal)

– Lowered LDL cholesterol and Elevated HDL cholesterol

– Decreased platelet stickiness (less clotting)

– Phenolic components (antioxidants) particularly in wine (e.g., resveratrol)

– Stress reduction

US dietary Guidelines for Alcohol Use

• If you drink, do so in moderation: 1/day for women and 2/day for men

• Children, adolescents and women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should not drink

• Do not mix alcohol with certain medications

• Alcohol adversely effects attention and motor skills

• Alcohol may have cardiovascular benefit for older adults but not young people.

Definition of alcoholism

• Extreme form of alcohol abuse defined as primary disease or condition of alcohol dependence with 4 typical features: 1) Alcohol tolerance, 2) Withdrawal symptoms during abstinence, 3) Loss of control over drinking, 4) Craving for alcohol

FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 170

Wine and Beer in Western Culture

Lecture 3 Alcohol and health

• Objectives

– Examine + and - aspects of alcohol consumption

– List reasons for drinking alcohol

– Discuss gender differences in alcohol metabolism

– Differentiate between acute and chronic alcohol effects

– Describe alcohol effects on physical performance

Definitions

• Alcoholic liver cirrhosis - disease of liver resulting in permanent damage and death caused by long-term excess alcohol consumption.

• Fetal alcohol syndrome - central nervous system and facial abnormalities in a fetus which may occur when a mother drinks alcohol during a pregnancy.

• Inebriation (drunkenness) - acute loss of faculties in response to alcohol consumption. Symptoms disappear once alcohol is cleared from system.

Perceptions of drinking in societies

• Wide cultural/social norms as to what is responsible vs problem drinking

• Even within cultures such as the USA, there is divergence of opinion

• Reason to drink alcohol fall into several categories: Social, Ritualistic, Dietary, Altered state of consciousness, Solve problems/escape

Alcohol use in ancient times

• Beer and wine formed an important part of the diet

– Contained calories and essential vitamins & minerals

– Much safer than water

– Lower in alcohol (2-3%) so less dehydrating and inebriating

• Also, Basis of medicinal treatments, Important in religious/cultural rituals, and Dulled edge of difficult existence

Advantages and disadvantages of alcohol use today

• Advantages: Better cardiovascular health, Improved blood vessel function, Value in religious systems, Social interactions at low to moderate use levels

• Disadvantages: Fetal alcohol syndrome, Driving related problems and violence, Alcoholism, Increased risk for various diseases (Many types of cancer), Interaction with several medications, even OTC drugs

Alcohol as food

• Most of the calories in wine & beer come from alcohol

– Residual sugar in wine and residual starch in beer

• Alcohol has 7 kcal/gm - more than carbohydrates but less than fats

• Could contribute substantial portion of calories for some, leaving them without other essential nutrients

• Several micronutrients in wine (and maybe beer) that play an overall role in health such as antioxidants and resveratrol in grapes

Digestion and absorption of alcohol

• Absorbed into the body mostly in the upper small intestine

• Metabolized by the liver

• Rate at which alcohol get into the small intestine is determined by rate of stomach emptying -- Food (especially fats) in the stomach delays its emptying

• Concentration of alcohol in the blood depends on

– How fast alcohol gets to the small intestine

– How rapidly the liver digests alcohol

– How much lean body mass there is (thus male/female difference)

– Level of hydration (since alcohol distributes to "water layer")

Physiological effects of ethanol

• Depressant - May interact with other depressants such as barbiturates, tranquilizers and anti-histamines

• Dehydrating agent

• May magnify effects of NSAIDS on the stomach

• Acute effects: Stomach, Liver, Brain/motor skills

• Chronic effects: Liver, Heart, Brain, Sexual function/impotence

Effects at various blood alcohol levels (gm/100ml blood)

• .05 warmth, skin flushing, decreased inhibition, mild intoxication

• .1 intoxication, impaired judgment and motor skills, slowed reflexes, difficulty paying attention

• .15 obvious intoxication, slurred speech, altered comprehension

• .25 extreme intoxication, vomiting, sleepiness, unresponsive, incontinence

• .35 lowered body temp, lowered blood pressure, respiratory depression, coma

• .5 death likely even with ventilator support and dialysis

• .08 is the Ohio State Blood Alcohol Limit (2004)

Potential effects of cardiovascular system

• French paradox: Low coronaries despite high fat diet

• J curve is a plot of 10 year mortality/1000 pop

­ Shows higher death rate for non-drinkers than for light to moderate drinkers

• Alcoholics have little vascular plaque (often severe damage to heart muscle)

• Could be due to

– Sterilant action of alcohol (but not all alcohol is equal)

– Lowered LDL cholesterol and Elevated HDL cholesterol

– Decreased platelet stickiness (less clotting)

– Phenolic components (antioxidants) particularly in wine (e.g., resveratrol)

– Stress reduction

US dietary Guidelines for Alcohol Use

• If you drink, do so in moderation: 1/day for women and 2/day for men

• Children, adolescents and women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should not drink

• Do not mix alcohol with certain medications

• Alcohol adversely effects attention and motor skills

• Alcohol may have cardiovascular benefit for older adults but not young people.

Definition of alcoholism

• Extreme form of alcohol abuse defined as primary disease or condition of alcohol dependence with 4 typical features: 1) Alcohol tolerance, 2) Withdrawal symptoms during abstinence, 3) Loss of control over drinking, 4) Craving for alcohol

Shows higher death rate for non-drinkers than for light to moderate drinkers