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              Table 1 The levels of ethanol in the bloodstream can alter human behavior

                  Levels of ethanol in the bloodstream (%)                   Effect on behavior
                                0.08                  Wrong decisions, inability to restrain oneself, and mood swing.
                                0.15                  Inappropriate behavior and the heart beating is so fast.
                                0.23                  Slurred speech, blurry vision, staggering, and wrong decision.
                                0.30                  Blurred vision, inability to balance walking.
                                                      Loss of self-control, dizziness, confusion, lack of guilt, unconsciousness, shock, coma,
                              0.45-0.50
                                                      and death because of cardiac and respiratory failure.


              and can form protein adducts by binding covalently to   in suppressing brain activity and inhibiting the production of
              proteins. This process results in the loss of enzyme activity   gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is formed through
              and  the  development  of  fibrosis  in  liver  cells,  which  is   the decarboxylation of glutamate.
              considered the initial stage of cirrhosis.
                                                                  The  Influence  of  Blood  Ethanol  Levels  on
              Exploring the Effects of Ethanol on the Human       Behavior
              Body                                                The different levels of ethanol in the bloodstream can alter
                 - Ethanol contains little or no nutritional value and is called   human behavior, as shown in Table 1.
              an “empty calorie”. It can provide 7 calories per 1 gram but
              no other nutrients, only ethanol, and water.        Warning! Drinking Alcohol, Make a Pregnancy
                 - Ethanol is a tranquilizer and can cause mood changes   High-Risk
              or mood swings.                                     Drinking pregnancy, ethanol has the ability to cross the
                 - The toxic effects of ethanol can lead to malnutrition,   placenta and enter the fetal bloodstream. This process poses
              interfere  with  hepatic  metabolism,  and  cause  hepatic   significant risks, as ethanol toxicity restricts nutrient transport
              cirrhosis,  liver  carcinogenesis,  acute  pancreatitis,  and   to both the mother and the developing fetus, leading to
              cerebral atrophy.                                   malnutrition. Especially during the first three months of
                 - People who regularly or excessively consume alcohol   pregnancy, the presence of ethanol in the bloodstream can
              are likely to develop alcoholism, which is both socially   interfere with the growth and development of crucial organs,
              objectionable and a health problem.                 structures, and physiological systems, including the brain.
                 - Excessive ethanol consumption can lead to social issues   Under  normal  circumstances,  the  brain  generates
              and conflicts within families and social settings, etc.  approximately 100,000 new cells per minute. However,
                 - It can also increase the likelihood of accidents in various   prolonged ethanol consumption has detrimental
              situations, including operating machinery, driving vehicles,   consequences, particularly as the leading cause of fetal
              or working in industrial settings.                  alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which is characterized
                   Excessive  alcohol  consumption  over  a  prolonged   by  a  range  of  severe  conditions,  including  congenital
              period of time can lead to the development of severe   disabilities, neurodevelopmental abnormalities, and distinct
              metabolic problems with various chemical and biochemical   abnormal facial features.
              processes in neurochemical actions and neurotoxic actions,
              including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver
              disease, pancreatitis, digestive problems, cardiomyopathy,
              and blood and brain abnormalities. Furthermore, it can cause   More Information     Service Info C021
              breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon,
              and rectum cancers.
                   Prolonged consumption of ethanol also has additional
              detrimental effects on the body. It can lead to elevated levels   เอกสารอ้างอิง / References
              of  uric  acid  in  the  bloodstream,  contributing  to  the   Quertemont, E., K. Grant, M. Correa and M. Arizzi. 2005. The role of
              development of gout. Ethanol triggers the production of high     acetaldehyde in the central effects of ethanol. Alcoholism Clinical
              levels of lactic acid in the blood, which in turn hinders the     and Experimental Research. 29(2): 221-234.
              kidneys’ ability to excrete uric acid from the body.   Ruusyn, I. and R. Bataller. 2013. Alcohol and toxicity. Journal of
              Consequently, the concentration of uric acid in the blood     Histology. 59(2): 387-388.
              rises, making individuals who regularly consume alcohol   Zakhari, S. 2006. Overview: how is alcohol metabolized by the body?
              more susceptible to gout. Furthermore, ethanol consumption     Alcohol Res Health.  29: 245-254.
              can  result  in  increased  levels  of  ketone  bodies  in  the   Zimatkin,  S.M. and A. L. Buben. 2007 Ethanol oxidation in the living
              bloodstream due to enhanced ketone body production in the     brain. Alcohol and Alcoholism. 42(6): 529–532.
              liver. This elevation leads to higher concentrations of ketone   นิิธิิยา รััตนิาปนินิท์์และวิิบููลย์ รััตนิาปนินิท์์. 2553. สารัพิิษในิอาหารั.
              bodies in the blood and urine and causes an upsurge in
              glutamate levels in the brain, which plays a significant role     พิิมพิ์ครัั�งท์่� 2. สำานิักพิิมพิ์โอเดี่ยนิสโตรั์, กรัุงเท์พิฯ, 330 หนิ้า.

             126 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND  JUN  2023


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