What is the main method of alcohol elimination in the body?

What is the main method of alcohol elimination in the body?

• A. Excretion via sweat.
• B. Metabolism by kidneys.
• C. Oxidation in the liver, converting alcohol to acetic acid, then to carbon dioxide and water.
• D. Fermentation by gut bacteria.

Answer: (C)

The body mainly eliminates alcohol through metabolism in the liver by oxidation. In liver cells, alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, which is then oxidized by aldehyde dehydrogenase to acetate (acetic acid). The acetate is further transformed into acetyl-CoA and enters the citric acid cycle, ultimately producing carbon dioxide and water. This metabolic process handles the majority of alcohol clearance. A small amount is excreted unchanged in breath, urine, and sweat, which is why those routes exist but do not account for most of the elimination. Other routes, like kidney excretion or gut bacteria fermentation, contribute very little in comparison.

The body mainly eliminates alcohol through metabolism in the liver by oxidation. In liver cells, alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, which is then oxidized by aldehyde dehydrogenase to acetate (acetic acid). The acetate is further transformed into acetyl-CoA and enters the citric acid cycle, ultimately producing carbon dioxide and water. This metabolic process handles the majority of alcohol clearance. A small amount is excreted unchanged in breath, urine, and sweat, which is why those routes exist but do not account for most of the elimination. Other routes, like kidney excretion or gut bacteria fermentation, contribute very little in comparison.