Chronic ethyl alcohol consumption damages almost all organs and tissues. Such effects are secondary to direct toxicity of alcohol and
metabolites, while it is also known that intestinal absorption of folate and Vitamin B12 is impaired. In addition, it is found that free radicals
play a role in tissue damage secondary to metabolism of alcohol. Whatsoever the mechanism, chronic alcoholism results with many
hepatic conditions ranging from fatty degeneration to cirrhosis, acute or chronic pancreatitis, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, and neurological
lesions ranging from WernieckeKorsak of syndrome, peripheral neuropathy and cerebral and cerebellar atrophy, and gastritis, peptic
ulcer and endocrine disorders such as testicular atrophy and amenorrhea. Alcoholic liver disease is a clinical picture which is characterized
with excess consumption of alcohol for long term and variable hepatic injury. Alcoholic liver disease is a condition which is due to
cumulative alcohol intake for a long period of time and characterized by hepatic injury with a variable severity. Excess consumption of
alcohol leads to Alcoholic Liver Disease [ALD] which is associated with excess iron accumulation and is characterized with hepatosteatosis, fibrosis, hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Last date updated on September, 2024