What type of kinetics applies for alcohol in the body? Also, explain the clinical significance of this.

Both absorption and distribution of alcohol through the body is fast. The distribution of alcohol is directly proportional to the amount of fluid in the body.

Thus the clinical significance is that if a patient has higher amounts of fluid in their bodies for example women has more body fluids the men, for this reason is alcohol faster distributed through a women’s body then a man’s.

Give a brief summary of the metabolic pathways of ethanol metabolism.

Ethanol is metabolised in two different ways, depending on the total amount and concentration.

If the total amount of alcohol that was consumed is low to moderate the Alcholdehydrogenase system is used, this is a zero order kinetic enzyme system because there is a limited amount od NAD, co enzymes (7-10 g alcohol is metabolized per hour). If very high concentrations of alcohol is in the bloodstream, higher then 100mg per decilitre. Then the MEOS (Mixed function oxidation) enzyme system is used to metabolise alcohol, but this system can become more tolerant to Alcohol, if it is ingested chronically.

Both enzyme systems metabolise alcohol to acetaldehyde that is converted to acetate through the enzyme aldehyddehydrogenase. Acetate is excreted out of the body.

Which drugs can affect this metabolism and what are the effects thereof?

Disulfiram, Metronidazole, Cephalosporins and Hypoglycemics all these drugs influence the metabolism of alcohol because they block the effect of the enzyme Aldehyddehydrogenase, this enzyme converts acetaldehyde to acetate if this action is prevented the patient will experience the side effects of alcohol toxicity more quickly and alcohol will not be excreted out of the body.