The effects of alcohol

• Acute alcohol intoxication (Noe)• Alcoholism (addiction)

– Alcoholic is who drinks more than his doctor

• Withdrawal syndrome (delirium, white mice)

• Diseases associated to alcohol consumption• Beneficial health effects of moderate

drinking– The French paradox

Alcohol and the western populations

• Absolute abstainers 10 %• Consistent consumers 20 %• Nonconsistent consumers 20 %• Occasional heavy drinkers 27 %• Regular heavy drinkers 20

%• Addictive alcoholics 3 %

Consequences of heavy drinking in EU

Fatal traffic accidents 17 000Fatal injuries 27 000Assassinations 2 000Self-murder 10 000

Deaths due to liver cirrhosis* 45 000

Deaths due to malignant tumors 50 000Deaths due to neuropsychical diseases 17 000

* Liver failure and bleeding from oesophageal varices

Alcohol and diseases• Direct effect (brain, liver)• Energy content (beer obesity)• Deficient nutrition (B vitamins neuropathy)• Toxic compounds (Methanol, Glycols, Cobalt,

Thujone from absynth

The French paradox (CHD in France vs Scotland

HDL cholesterol, fibrinolysis, coagulation, insulin sensitivity

Decreased risk of MI Antioxidants ? Life style ?