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Alcohol can contribute to death rising from stroke, motor vehicle accidents, injuries, alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis), cancer of the digestive system and suicide. Alcohol is a known risk factor associated with high blood pressure, which is also a major factor of heart disease.
Prolonged use of alcohol can cause painful and dangerous ulcers in the stomach and over time, excessive alcohol intake can result in damage to the liver, stomach and pancreas, which can impair digestion, nutrient absorption and fuel metabolism (1). Gradual brain damage can also occur and eventually lead to memory loss and confusion (3). ‘Binge drinkers’ can also develop severe problems (4).
Alcohol, once ingested, is absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. Once alcohol circulates in the bloodstream it is distributed to all parts of the body. The level of consumption of alcohol and the manner (i.e., binging) in which it is consumed influence the physiological effects of alcohol. The rate of this absorption depends on a number of factors such as having food in the stomach, especially fatty foods, which can slow down the absorption rate.
Did you know there are differences in the way alcohol effects the sexes. For men the following can occur:
The acute effects include, but are not limited to, reduced motor control and reduced physical performance. In addition to the acute effects, a chronic decline in physical performance has been found following prolonged abuse of alcohol. Further, muscle atrophy and weakness have been found in individuals diagnosed with alcohol dependence. A suppressing effect of acute alcohol intoxication on the total serum testosterone concentration has been found to occur for up to several hours following alcohol ingestion in males. Alcohol has also been shown to have an inhibitory effect on the Leydig cells and continued use of alcohol can thereby chronically reduce testosterone production. This low level of testosterone could partially explain the muscle atrophy found in men with alcohol dependency. (2)
In women, alcohol intoxication has been shown to both acutely and chronically cause an increase in total serum testosterone and serum free testosterone. This testosterone increase in women is associated with the development of certain male characteristics. For men with alcohol dependency it appears that testosterone is converted to estrogen at a high rate resulting in the development of female characteristics, especially the development of small female-like breasts. The effect of alcohol on total serum testosterone and serum free testosterone depend on the amount ingested.
Studies have shown that alcohol ingestion or injection of amounts equal to or less than 1 g/kg body mass (12 oz of beer, 5% volume, contains 14 g of alcohol) resulted in either no change or an increase in total serum testosterone for men, while amounts exceeding 1 g/kg body mass resulted in a suppression of total serum testosterone. Alcohol's effects on the body and specifically on testosterone have a negative impact on various physiological parameters and can ultimately result in a general decrease in performance (2).
Alcohol affects both the body and mind.
Take home message: One or two standard drinks per day have health benefits. Imbibing in more will start to have serious health costs. Remember the rule, 1or 2 drinks are healthy but it’s the 3rd drink that will cost you. It’s also the 3rd drink where you start to look better and everyone around you does as well!
References:
1) Burke, L. M. Nutrition for recovery after competition and training. In: Clinical Sports Nutrition (2nd ed.), edited by L. Burke and V. Deakin. Sydney: McGraw-Hill, 2000, p. 396-427.
2) Jakob L. Vingren, MS and William J. Kraemer, PhD, CSCS
Effect of Postexercise Alcohol Consumption on Serum Testosterone: Brief Overview of Testosterone, Resistance Exercise, and Alcohol. Strength and Conditioning Journal: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 84–87.
3) Drug Facts – Alcohol (fact sheet). NSW department of health 2003 (updated Feb. 2004)
4) What’s the Score? Facts about alcohol, drugs and sport. Australian sports commission 2004
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