The Effects of Alcohol Misuse on Metabolic Health

You may have heard varying information about alcohol effects on metabolism and risks to your metabolic health associated with alcohol misuse. The research on this topic is varied. While there is information linking heavy drinking with poor metabolic health, whether or not alcohol causes metabolic health issues is unclear.

In this article:

What is Metabolic Health?

Metabolic health is a term used to describe how well you generate and process energy in the body. Your body has a metabolic system that works to break down the substances you eat and drink and turn them into energy for your body to use. Not everyone’s metabolism works at the same speed, and your metabolism rate can be affected by diet, exercise, age, medications, weight, gender, and even alcohol consumption.

According to health professionals, you are considered metabolically healthy if you have less than three of the following risk factors:1

  • Systolic blood pressure under 130 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure under 85 mmHg
  • Fasting glucose reading less than 100 mg/dl
  • Fasting triglyceride level less than 150mg/dl
  • Fasting HDL-Cholesterol level under 40 mg/dL in men and under 50 mg/dL in women
  • A large waistline, which means a waist measurement of 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men

How Does Alcohol Affect Metabolism?

Your metabolism works to turn the things you eat and drink into energy your body can use. When it comes to alcohol and the metabolism relationship, two specific enzymes break down alcohol in your body. These enzymes are alcohol hydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde hydrogenase (ALDH). These enzymes live in your liver, where 80% of alcohol is metabolized. Your stomach absorbs the remaining 20%. Alcohol can impact your metabolism in several ways.

Tissue Damage

The enzyme ADH produces a substance called acetaldehyde while it is metabolizing alcohol in your body. This substance is a highly toxic byproduct that may contribute to tissue damage in your body.2 Your liver is not the only organ involved in processing alcohol in your body. Your stomach, brain, and pancreas are also impacted by alcohol use.

Liver Damage

When you drink alcohol faster than your liver can process it, you create strain on the liver. Your body cannot store alcohol, so the liver prioritizes processing alcohol before carbohydrates or fats. If it takes a while for your body to process all of the alcohol, this can lead to a buildup of fat in the liver and cause liver damage and liver disease over time.2

Weight Gain

You may notice weight gain with regular use of alcohol. This could be related to the alcohol use itself for various reasons.

One study compared people who did not drink with light drinkers (less than 13 drinks a week) and heavy drinkers (more than 13 drinks a week). According to this study, the heavy drinkers had the greatest body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.3 The study also showed that central obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia were found more often in the group of heavy drinkers than in the other two groups.3 This study does not conclude that alcohol misuse causes any of these conditions, but rather points to a correlation between the two.

From what medical professionals understand about alcohol and metabolism, the weight gain that appears to be associated with drinking alcohol usually comes from the following contributors:4

  • Alcoholic drinks with a high caloric intake and little nutrients
  • The tendency to eat unhealthy foods when intoxicated
  • A weakened digestive system from alcohol misuse
  • Hormonal changes caused by drinking too much alcohol
  • Lack of exercise due to sluggishness caused by alcohol
  • Poor liver health

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What is Metabolic Syndrome?

Alcohol misuse has also been linked to an increased risk of developing a condition called metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a term used when you have a complex combination of metabolic disorders with components like:5

  • Abdominal fat
  • High blood pressure
  • Low HDL cholesterol levels
  • Glucose intolerance

These components are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.5

Metabolic syndrome is mostly caused by an unhealthy lifestyle that leads to a large waist circumference and the other issues named above. Several things can contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle, such as poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and alcohol consumption.

Does Alcohol Misuse Lead to Metabolic Syndrome?

Alcohol misuse does not always cause metabolic syndrome and isn’t always the sole cause of metabolic syndrome. However, many studies show a heightened risk of developing this condition if you are a heavy drinker.

One study showed that drinking more than one drink per day for women and more than two drinks per day for men was associated with an increased risk of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. This same study found that alcohol consumption was linked to insulin resistance, which is the main issue found in metabolic syndrome.5

Another study offered more specific findings that men who have six drinks per day and women who have four drinks per day are 60% more likely to develop metabolic syndrome than men who have 1.3 drinks per day and women who have one drink per day.6

Further research shows some slightly contradictory information. One study found that light consumption of alcohol (four to seven drinks a week) had a lower rate of metabolic syndrome when compared to participants not drinking or drinking alcohol only occasionally.7 This study also found that:7

  • Consuming greater amounts of alcohol outside of meals was significantly associated with developing metabolic syndrome.
  • Drinking wine more often than other alcohol types mostly occurred with meals and was related to a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
  • Drinking mostly beer outside of meals was frequently associated with a greater prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

This study suggests that the type of alcohol you consume and whether or not it is consumed with food could impact your risk of metabolic syndrome.

What Are the Signs of Metabolic Health Issues?

Some of the common signs of having a metabolic health issue are a large waist circumference and high blood pressure. You may also show signs of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst and urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.
If you are experiencing metabolic issues due to drinking alcohol, you may also show signs of a condition called alcoholic ketoacidosis. This is when you have a buildup of ketones in your blood due to alcohol use. Some of the symptoms associated with alcoholic ketoacidosis include:8

  • Abdominal issues like pain, nausea, and vomiting
  • Feeling agitated or confused
  • Decreased levels of alertness
  • Fatigue
  • Breathing problems
  • Loss of appetite
  • Signs of dehydration like feeling dizzy and thirsty

If you are wondering if you have metabolic health issues related to your alcohol misuse, contact your healthcare provider to get an assessment.

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How Can You Improve Metabolic Health?

If you are experiencing metabolic health issues due to your alcohol intake, the best remedy is to reduce or stop your alcohol consumption. Following the drinking guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would mean you limit yourself to two drinks or less in a day if you are a man or one drink or less in a day if you are a woman.9

You may find it difficult to reduce or quit your alcohol consumption on your own if your body has become dependent on it. Stopping your alcohol use suddenly will cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that can sometimes be life-threatening.

Treatment options are available for you so that you do not have to go through this process alone. Detox centers can provide medication that eases alcohol withdrawal symptoms as your body gets used to being alcohol-free. Most rehab centers also provide individual therapy, group counseling, family therapy, and peer support groups that help you identify underlying issues that lead you to drink alcohol. Staying abstinent or reducing your alcohol intake can reverse some of the metabolic health issues you may be experiencing.

If you or someone you love is misusing alcohol, please call 800-948-8417 Info iconCalls are forwarded to paid advertisers to speak to a specialist about treatment options.

Resources

  1. Stefan N. (2020). Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Normal Weight and Obesity. Endocrinology and metabolism (Seoul, Korea), 35(3), 487-493.
  2. Cederbaum A. I. (2012). ALCOHOL METABOLISM. Clinics in Liver Disease, 16(4), 667-685.
  3. Choi, S. J., Lee, S. I., & Joo, E. Y. (2016, August 18). Habitual Alcohol Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Sleep Disordered Breathing. PLOS ONE Journal.
  4. Liangpunsakul, S., Crabb, D. W., & Qi, R. (2010). Relationship between alcohol intake, body fat, and physical activity – a population-based study. Annals of Epidemiology, 20(9), 670-675.
  5. Kim, S. K., Hong, S. H., Chung, J. H., & Cho, K. B. (2017). Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome in a Community-Based Cohort of Korean Adults. Medical Science Monitor: International Medical Journal of Experimental And Clinical Research, 23, 2104-2110.
  6. American Heart Association. (2004, November 18). Heavy, Lifetime Alcohol Users May Be Toasting Metabolic Syndrome. ScienceDaily.
  7. Vieira, B. A., Luft, V. C., Schmidt, M. I., Chambless, L. E., Chor, D., Barreto, S. M., & Duncan, B. B. (2016). Timing and Type of Alcohol Consumption and the Metabolic Syndrome. PloS one, 11(9).
  8. National Library of Medicine. (2021, April 24). Alcoholic ketoacidosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. National Institutes of Health.
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, March 29). Facts about moderate drinking. United States Department of Health and Human Services.
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