Metabolism of ethanol

Factual Questions
1

In studying for my orgo final, I found myself flipping through my textbook to find old reactions referenced in the chapters from this semester. I ran across a section detailing the metabolism of ethanol, methanol, and ethylene glycol, and how to treat poisonings from the latter two.

So the metabolism of ethanol produces acetaldehyde, and in turn acetic acid. Book describes the acid as a “normal metabolite.” Of course, that’s “safe,” since it’s just essentially vinegar. However, acetaldehyde has me curious.

What does it do? Is it there for a while or, because of the instability of aldehydes, does it quickly oxidize to acid? To the enzymes set upon it well-nigh immediately?

I figure that, since it’s an intermediate, it’s not something that’s particularly harmful to have in one’s system in small concentrations. I looked it up on an MSDS, and they make it sound rather nasty. 'Course, it makes ethanol sound pretty nasty. I don’t plan on trying it any time soon, so I’ll put forth the question here.

Would acetaldehyde be safe for consumption in dilute solutions? What does it taste like? Does it just oxidize too quickly?

2

Acetaldehye is not so toxic as can be seen www.chemrest.com/Toxicity%2520and%2520Risk%2520Codes/Acetaldehyde.htm+acetaldehyde+toxicity&hl=en&ie=UTF-8]here

3

that did’nt come out right - here it is again - hopefully it works - http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache:3_EWzrNP_3wC:www.chemrest.com/Toxicity%20and%20Risk%20Codes/Acetaldehyde.htm+acetaldehyde+toxicity&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

4

From my two semesters of bio-chem over a decade ago, I distinctly remember my instructor saying that acetaldehyde was indeed the molecule which provided all of the pleasant intoxicating effects. I’ll assume he’s correct.

He didn’t elaborate any, as he was describing the other mechanisms involved in alcohol metabolism. And he was often difficult to understand, as he was from India and spoke with a British accent.

As far as the safety of drinking acetaldehyde, I haven’t a clue. I could come up with a suitable dilution to make it as strong as Everclear or as weak as Coors Lite.

No way I would attempt to explain it here, although it’s quite a simple problem.