How does your body actually process alcohol? New research from the Georgian Medical Journal explains the intricate three-step enzymatic pathway that metabolises over 90% of ingested ethanol in the liver. The process generates acetaldehyde, a toxic intermediate compound, while simultaneously depleting critical NAD+ cofactors essential for energy production and cellular defence.
This sequential oxidation—ethanol to acetaldehyde to acetate—cannot be artificially accelerated, regardless of supplements, food, or hydration strategies. The body clears approximately one standard drink per hour, a rate determined by enzyme capacity and genetic factors. Understanding this biochemistry is crucial for comprehending why alcohol’s effects persist long after consumption and why chronic drinking carries metabolic consequences beyond intoxication.
Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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