On average, males will have a lower BAC compared to females when drinking the same amount of alcohol. Which statement below is NOT a contributing factor to this difference?

• A. Males are more likely to have functional ALDH enzyme compared to females.
• B. Males tend to have more ADH in the stomach compared to females.
• C. Males tend to have higher lean body mass than females.
• D. Males tend to have a larger overall body size compared to females.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is influenced by factors such as body composition, enzyme activity, and body size, which affect how alcohol is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated.
2. Recognize that males generally have higher lean body mass and larger overall body size, which means alcohol is distributed in a larger volume of water, leading to a lower BAC compared to females after consuming the same amount of alcohol.
3. Know that males tend to have more alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzyme activity in the stomach, which helps metabolize alcohol before it enters the bloodstream, reducing BAC.
4. Identify that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is another enzyme involved in alcohol metabolism, but its activity is generally similar between males and females, so differences in ALDH are not a major factor in BAC differences.
5. Conclude that the statement 'Males are more likely to have functional ALDH enzyme compared to females' is NOT a contributing factor to the difference in BAC between males and females.