Red Wine
Part 7

A look at how resveratrol, a component of red wine, may be used to treat HD

A word of caution: The dangers of alcohol consumption

With alcohol, the line between moderation and excess is subtle, and the shift from modest health benefits (from things like resveratrol) to major health liabilities (from the alcohol itself) can be abrupt. Several studies indicate that moderate consumption of red wine is probably safe. However, the dangers of alcohol abuse are so great that even doctors who are optimistic about the health benefits of moderate red wine consumption are hesitant to recommend to people who are currently not drinking that they should start.

Alcohol itself (better known in chemistry as ethanol) is toxic to the human body and has no redeeming qualities from a health perspective. After alcohol is consumed, a person’s blood alcohol level rises and the body begins to “detoxify” the alcohol. The first step in this process is the conversion of alcohol to another compound called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde stays in the body for several hours, producing a variety of undesirable toxic effects. Acetaldehyde binds readily to the walls of red blood cells. By attaching itself to the red blood cells, acetaldehyde reduces the oxygen supply to most of the cells of the body, including the brain. Acetaldehyde also combines with hemoglobin in the red blood cells and further reduces its ability to carry oxygen, which eventually leads to hypoxia (oxygen starvation at the cellular level).

Additionally, acetaldehyde interferes with the process of microtubule formation. Microtubules are essential to the brain because they provide structural support for nerve cells and their dendrites and they also transport chemicals manufactured in the nerve cells to the dendrites. Without microtubules, dendrites weaken and die. Deficiencies in various vitamins are also induced by acetaldehyde. Although individuals vary in vulnerability to acetaldehyde, it is clear that acetaldehyde is a dangerous and toxic chemical. In addition to the complications already mentioned, alcohol can also do significant damage to the liver and central nervous system. Thus, one must exercise extreme caution when dealing with such a powerful substance.

Last Modified: 04/12/2007

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