Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2010, 7(4), 1285-1301; doi:10.3390/ijerph7041285
Review

Alcohol and Acetaldehyde in Public Health: From Marvel to Menace

Rui Guoemail and Jun Ren* email
Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine, University of Wyoming, Laramie, College of Health Sciences, WY 82071, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 11 January 2010; in revised form: 23 February 2010 / Accepted: 12 March 2010 / Published: 25 March 2010
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alcohol and Public Health)
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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

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Guo, R.; Ren, J. Alcohol and Acetaldehyde in Public Health: From Marvel to Menace. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2010, 7, 1285-1301.

AMA Style

Guo R, Ren J. Alcohol and Acetaldehyde in Public Health: From Marvel to Menace. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2010; 7(4):1285-1301.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guo, Rui; Ren, Jun. 2010. "Alcohol and Acetaldehyde in Public Health: From Marvel to Menace." Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 7, no. 4: 1285-1301.

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