Alcohol Induced de Novo Lipogenesis in Women

The study is cross-sectional is design. In the first Aim of this study, 5 women and 5 men will be asked to consume 2g/kg of \[2H\]water (a.k.a. deuterium oxide or heavy water) which incorporates 2H tracers into newly synthesized fatty acids and triglycerides. Deuterated water is not radioactive and has a long history of application in human studies. Researchers will collect blood samples 2 hours before and 5 hours after the participants consume 20 grams of alcohol as vodka to measure alcohol induced hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) in both men in women. In addition, for Aim 2 researchers will recruit an additional 10 women who will be randomized into one of two groups who will consume a beverage containing vodka and sucrose, or sucrose alone. Aim 2 will be identical to the experimental scheme in Aim 2 in order to determine if sucrose enhances the effects of vodka on hepatic DNL.