When glutathione levels in the body are not adequate to keep up with the amount
of acetaldehyde being produced during the first phase
of alcohol detoxification,
acetaldehyde begins to exert its powerful
damaging effects.
In addition, alcohol metabolism leads to the synthesis
of acetaldehyde which is a hepatotoxin contributing to liver impairment thru further toxic metabolites, free radicals and oxidative stress and by directly
damaging the mitochondria.