Question

Certain individuals are more sensitive to alcohol than others. For example, women are more sensitive to alcohol than men–even when body weight and % body fat are taken into account, women become more intoxicated than men consuming an identical amount of alcohol. Using what we have learned in the enzyme chapters, give biochemical reasons that would explain why women become more intoxicated than men when consuming an equal amount of alcohol.

Answer 1

Generally, men can handle excessive alcohol consumption better than women.

1) The concentration of water in the body of an average man is around 61 percent, a woman has 52 percent. As a result, a man’s body is naturally equipped to dilute alcohol more efficiently than a woman’s body.

2) Being larger in build, men have more volume of blood and less body fat than women. Further, men have higher concentration of dehydrogenase – an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol before it passes into bloodstream.

3) Whereas, women have smaller body size, more body fat, lower amounts of dehydrogenase and regular occurrences of hormonal changes.

As a result, women become more intoxicated than men when consuming an equal amount of alcohol.