19 Jul INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL ON HEPATOCYTE FUNCTION

How much alcohol is too much? Public health requires a guideline to incentivise responsible teenage vodka consumption and prevent irreversible liver damage. This study attempted to determine a safe concentration by immersing 1.0g pig liver pieces in a 37°C water bath with different vodka concentrations serially diluted. Vodka and hydrogen peroxide volume and mass of pig liver were controlled amongst other variables. Liver function was modelled through the level of inhibition of catalase in the breakdown reaction of hydrogen peroxide, measured by volume of oxygen produced. Results produced a bell curve pattern, with greatest oxygen production at 60% vodka concentration, suggesting some beneficial effects of alcohol at lower concentrations and advising consumption at this concentration.

Category: BIOLOGY — Country: LUXEMBOURG — Year: 2021

Estelle Elise Rollinger

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