Enzyme Kinetics to Determine How Sugar Interferes with Alcohol Metabolsim

Presentation Year

2025

College or Department

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Short Description of your Research or Creative Project (700 characters or less)

Northern Kentucky University conducted a study in which alcoholic drinks mixed with soda & diet soda were drunk, then participants had their BAC measured with a breathalyzer. When the diet soda mixer was used, a higher BAC was measured, indicating faster metabolism. The enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase, breaks down ethanol, turning it into acetaldehyde with the use of NAD+. If biochemical pathways such as glycolysis are active, the NAD+/NADH ratio will be offset and will limit the process. Since sugar substitutes don't activate glycolysis like sugar, they are essentially inert. I am in the process of determining if the sugar interacts directly with the enzyme to cause this inhibition.

Permission to Publish Work

Yes

Primary Contact: First Name

Dylan

Primary Contact: Last Name

Harrison

Primary Contact: Email

djh125@humboldt.edu

Primary Contact: I am a

Undergraduate Student

Primary Contact: Phone Number

9097142112