Sign Up for a Free Account

This is an image preview.
Start a Free Account
to view the full image.

Sign Up for a Free Account For information on discounts, see Plans & Pricing

  • Nearly 3,000 illustrations, including video clips of neurologic disorders.

  • Every article is reviewed by our esteemed Editorial Board for accuracy and currency.

  • Full spectrum of neurology in 1,200 comprehensive articles.

  • Listen to MedLink on the go with Audio versions of each article.

Alcohol metabolism oxidative pathways

Alcohol is metabolized mainly in the cytosol of hepatocytes by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) to produce acetaldehyde. At high levels of alcohol consumption, an enzyme in the endoplasmic reticulum, cytochrome P450 IIE1 (CYP2E1), also becomes involved in metabolizing alcohol to acetaldehyde. A third (and minor) pathway for alcohol metabolism to acetaldehyde involves a catalase-mediated reaction in peroxisomes. Acetaldehyde is further metabolized to acetate in the mitochondria. Alcohol metabolism results in the formation of NADH and, thus, changes the redox state of hepatocytes (ie, increases the ratio of NADH/NAD+). Alcohol metabolism by CYP2E1 and the re-oxidation of NADH via the mitochondrial electron-transport chain both generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) which contribute to tissue damage. Source: (Zakhari 2013). Public domain. Note: The legend for this figure has been modified.

Related Article

Related Media

Associated Disorders

  • Acute alcohol withdrawal
  • Acute renal failure
  • Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
  • Alcoholic peripheral neuropathy
  • Crush syndrome
  • Delirium tremens
  • Fetal alcohol myopathy
  • Hepatic cirrhosis
  • Hyperkalemia
  • Nutritional deficiency