Copyright information:Taken from "Beneficial Effect of Low Ethanol Intake on the Cardiovascular System: Possible Biochemical Mechanisms"Vascular Health and Risk Management 2006;2(3):263-276.Published online Jan 2006PMCID:PMC1993980.© 2006 Dove Medical Press Limited. All rights reserved Free radicals (ROO) are reduced (ROOH) by vitamins which become oxidized in the process. These vitamin radicals are reduced by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) which forms oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). Ethanol in low concentrations converts NAD back into NADH, via its metabolism to acetate. At this low level, acetate, which is a normal metabolite of glucose and fatty acid metabolism, is further metabolized in the citric acid cycle.