Alcohol and the impact on folate levels in the body
Studies have shown that drinking alcohol can have immediate effects on folate levels and on the body’s ability to absorb folate in the tissues. This is partly because acetaldehyde (the initial metabolite of alcohol) has an oxidative effect on L-methylfolate, which can destroy it.1
As well as reducing folate levels, alcohol also inhibits methionine synthesis, which then reduces SAMe levels. The result is impaired methylation, and increased levels of homocysteine.2
Elevated homocysteine can then lead to various health issues, including cardiovascular disease and neurological conditions.
Chronic alcohol use has numerous negative effects on health, including cancer, liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, nervous system damage, and abnormal development in children during pregnancy.
More recently, researchers have found that the impact of alcohol on the methylation process may also have epigenetic effects. When the body breaks down alcohol, it creates stress on cells that can change how genes work without altering the DNA itself. This happens through a few processes: it shifts the balance of certain cell molecules (NADH and NAD+), produces harmful byproducts called ROS (reactive oxygen species), and generates a substance called acetate. Together, these effects can influence gene activity in ways that may lead to health problems over time.3
