Scientists have discovered that the rate at which women clear alcohol from their bloodstream is primarily determined by their lean body mass and, to some extent, their age.
Women who are older or have obesity clear alcohol from their systems 52% faster than younger women or those of a healthy weight.
The Role of Lean Body Mass in Alcohol Elimination
Lean body mass, defined as total body weight minus fat, plays a significant role in alcohol metabolism.
The study found that a higher lean body mass correlates with faster alcohol elimination rates, particularly in older women.
Experiment Design and Results
The researchers analyzed data from two previous studies that included 143 women ranging in age from 21 to 64 and represented a wide range of body mass indices.
They discovered that women with higher BMI not only had more fat mass, but they also had more lean mass.
On average, women with obesity had 52.3 kg of lean mass, compared to 47.5 kg for women of a healthy weight.
Alcohol Elimination Rates Across Different Groups
The average alcohol elimination rates were 6 grams per hour for the healthy weight group, 7 grams for the overweight group, and 9 grams for the group with obesity.
To put this into perspective, one standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol.
Age, Lean Body Mass, and Alcohol Elimination
The researchers found that the interaction between participants’ age and lean body mass accounted for 72% of the variation in the time required to eliminate alcohol from their system.
Implications for Bariatric Surgery Patients
The findings also shed light on alcohol metabolism and body composition in women who have undergone weight loss surgery.
Some previous studies suggested that these patients metabolized alcohol more slowly after surgery.
This study indicates that slower alcohol elimination rates in these participants can be explained by reductions in their lean body mass after weight loss surgery.
The surgery itself had no independent effects on patients’ alcohol elimination rates.
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The study was published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research.
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