Toxicological effects triggered by ethanol in the human body: a review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6008/SPC2236-9600.2017.002.0001Keywords:
Ethanol, Toxicology, Metabolism, EpigeneticsAbstract
For historical reasons, the use of alcoholic beverages has established itself as a common habit in society, making ethanol the most used psychoactive drug in the world. Several studies have shown that the interaction of ethanol and its metabolic products in the human body is linked to a set of physiological changes that make the individual susceptible to a number of diseases, including cancer. Several mechanisms are described, highlighting: the depressant effect on the nervous system; and interference in metabolic pathways, as well as the effect of the metabolites generated on the structure of the DNA molecule, causing covalent changes that generate changes in the pattern of gene expression. In addition, the effect of ethanol on enzymatic systems, such as cytochrome P450, may result in total or partial loss of the pharmacological effect, interfering with the therapy and originating products that cause tissue damage. Thus, due to the complexity and multiplicity of mechanisms involved in the cellular damage triggered by ethanol and its products in the human body, this article presents a systematic review of the main toxicological, biochemical and epigenetic effects and mechanisms, evidenced and recently described in the scientific literature.
Downloads
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The CBPC - Companhia Brasileira de Produção Científica (Brazil CNPJ: 11.221.422/0001-03) the material rights of the published works. The rights relate to the publication of the work anywhere in the world, including rights to renewals, expansions and dissemination of the contribution, as well as other subsidiary rights. All electronically published works may subsequently be published in printed collections under the coordination of this company and / or its partners. The authors preserve the copyright, but are not allowed to publish the contribution in another medium, printed or digital, in Portuguese or in translation.