Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (575 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Alkyl compounds containing a hydroxyl group. They are classified according to relation of the carbon atom: primary alcohols, r-ch2oh; secondary alcohols, r2-choh; tertiary alcohols, r3-coh. (From Grant and Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Organic Chemicals
- Narrower topics
- Amino Alcohols; Benzyl Alcohols; Chlorohydrins; Dolichols; Ethanol; Fatty Alcohols; Glycols; Methanol; Polyprenols; Polyvinyl Alcohol; Propanols; Sugar Alcohols
Related concepts
- R-Ch2Oh
- R2-Choh
- R3-Coh
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 718,359 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Alcohols” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 79,483 of them (11.1%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 367,168 records.
Reviews account for 36,054 records (5.0%) and meta-analyses for 2,204. Randomized controlled trials number 29,790 (4.1%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 367,168 |
| 2000-2009 | 124,137 |
| 2010-2019 | 147,571 |
| 2020 onward | 79,483 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 36,054 | 5.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 2,204 | 0.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 29,790 | 4.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Alcohols"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron-Sulfur Cluster Targeting: A Novel Perspective for Treating Alcohol-Related Lipid Metabolic Diseases | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42606773 · DOI · PMC13480352 |
| Metabolic Labeling of Phosphatidylethanolamine Lipids in Cells Using Clickable Ethanolamine Analogs | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42599685 · DOI · PMC13475593 |
| Impact of Voluntary Alcohol Consumption on Corticostriatal Plasticity in Rats | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42389902 · DOI · PMC13324971 |
Iron-Sulfur Cluster Targeting: A Novel Perspective for Treating Alcohol-Related Lipid Metabolic Diseases [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are pivotal molecular cofactors bridging inorganic chemistry and organic life processes, with their tightly regulated biosynthesis and function underpinning cellular metabolic homeostasis.
- Closing excerpt
- Collectively, this review highlights the central role of Fe-S clusters in alcohol-associated metabolic disorders and provides a novel theoretical framework for developing therapeutics targeting Fe-S cluster homeostasis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (196 words)
Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are pivotal molecular cofactors bridging inorganic chemistry and organic life processes, with their tightly regulated biosynthesis and function underpinning cellular metabolic homeostasis. Chronic alcohol-induced metabolic stress impairs Fe-S cluster stability and biosynthesis via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative damage and direct acetaldehyde toxicity, culminating in functional failure of this core cofactor. Current evidence is synthesized herein to delineate the hierarchical pathogenic cascade triggered by Fe-S cluster dysfunction. At the cellular level, Fe-S cluster depletion inactivates aconitase, driving citrate accumulation and redirecting carbon flux toward lipogenesis; concurrently, succinate dehydrogenase dysfunction causes succinate buildup, which epigenetically suppresses fatty acid oxidation. Impaired tRNA thiolation further compromises mitochondrial translational fidelity. Together, these defects precipitate an energy crisis and a self-perpetuating lipotoxicity-oxidative stress vicious cycle. At the systemic level, this metabolic dysregulation fuels disease progression from fatty liver and hyperlipidemia to atherosclerosis, mediated by enhanced hepatic VLDL secretion, reduced HDL levels, and oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) formation. Furthermore, a hypothetical structural model for acetaldehyde-driven Fe-S cluster disintegration, grounded in organometallic chemistry principles. Collectively, this review highlights the central role of Fe-S clusters in alcohol-associated metabolic disorders and provides a novel theoretical framework for developing therapeutics targeting Fe-S cluster homeostasis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42606773 · DOI · PMC13480352
Metabolic Labeling of Phosphatidylethanolamine Lipids in Cells Using Clickable Ethanolamine Analogs [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is the second most abundant phospholipid in mammalian cells.
- Closing excerpt
- This approach provides an invaluable step toward metabolic labeling strategies that will aid in the tracking of PE biosynthesis and trafficking pathways in cells.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (159 words)
Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is the second most abundant phospholipid in mammalian cells. The cone-shaped structure of PE positions this lipid to act as a cornerstone of signaling events, such as those involving protein-protein and lipid-protein interactions, as it has been shown to promote conformational changes in both protein and lipid-based membrane structures. Despite this importance, chemical tools to interrogate the biological activity and trafficking of PE lipids are limited. Herein, we report the development of ethanolamine probes functionalized with clickable tags that are capable of infiltrating native cellular pathways and subsequently producing labeled PE lipids. Derivatization of click-tagged PE products enabled fluorescence microscopy imaging of these lipids in cells. Interrogation of the efficacy of these probes for biological incorporation was conducted using mass spectrometry and thin-layer chromatography analysis to identify various species of tagged PE molecules. This approach provides an invaluable step toward metabolic labeling strategies that will aid in the tracking of PE biosynthesis and trafficking pathways in cells.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42599685 · DOI · PMC13475593
Impact of Voluntary Alcohol Consumption on Corticostriatal Plasticity in Rats [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder that is characterized by loss of control over alcohol consumption.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings show that alcohol consumption affects corticostriatal plasticity, which might contribute to the development of AUD.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (220 words)
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder that is characterized by loss of control over alcohol consumption. Loss of control over alcohol use has been proposed to be mediated by a combination of habitual substance use, caused by functional changes in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), and breakdown of cognitive control over alcohol use, subserved by cortical areas. We have previously shown that a subgroup of Lister Hooded rats develops loss of control over alcohol seeking after voluntary intermittent-every-other-day consumption of alcohol. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the effects of long-term voluntary alcohol consumption on sensorimotor cortical inputs to the DLS in subgroups of rats that had consumed low versus high amounts of alcohol. To that end, optogenetics and patch-clamp electrophysiology were combined to investigate functional changes in cortical projections to the DLS after 8 weeks of voluntary alcohol consumption. We observed lower AMPA/NMDA ratios in alcohol-consuming rats, indicative of long-term depression of this projection upon exposure to alcohol. We observed a reduced coefficient of variance and, selectively in high alcohol drinking rats, an increase in paired-pulse facilitation. This indicates that voluntary alcohol consumption induces both post- and presynaptic changes in the sensorimotor cortical inputs to the DLS. These findings show that alcohol consumption affects corticostriatal plasticity, which might contribute to the development of AUD.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42389902 · DOI · PMC13324971
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Anaphylaxis-a 2020 practice parameter update, systematic review, and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) analysis [4]
- Research article Optimal dose of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, venlafaxine, and mirtazapine in major depression: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Meta-analysis of 16 studies of the association of alcohol with colorectal cancer [6]
- Research article The effect of laboratory manipulations of negative affect on alcohol craving and use: A meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Timing of norepinephrine initiation in patients with septic shock: a systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Use of multiple epinephrine doses in anaphylaxis: A systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
References
- Xu L, Xu Z, Su C, Zhao Y, Qiang L, Jing X, et al.. Iron-Sulfur Cluster Targeting: A Novel Perspective for Treating Alcohol-Related Lipid Metabolic Diseases. . 2026. PMID 42606773 · DOI · PMC13480352
- Maraski RJ, Lou J, Reynolds TB, Best MD. Metabolic Labeling of Phosphatidylethanolamine Lipids in Cells Using Clickable Ethanolamine Analogs. . 2026. PMID 42599685 · DOI · PMC13475593
- Smeets JAS, Ramakers GMJ, Meye FJ, Baars AM, Adan RAH, Vanderschuren LJMJ, et al.. Impact of Voluntary Alcohol Consumption on Corticostriatal Plasticity in Rats. . 2026. PMID 42389902 · DOI · PMC13324971
- Shaker MS, Wallace DV, Golden DBK, Oppenheimer J, Bernstein JA, Campbell RL, et al.. Anaphylaxis-a 2020 practice parameter update, systematic review, and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) analysis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020. PMID 32001253 · DOI
- Furukawa TA, Cipriani A, Cowen PJ, Leucht S, Egger M, Salanti G. Optimal dose of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, venlafaxine, and mirtazapine in major depression: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2019. PMID 31178367 · DOI · PMC6586944
- McNabb S, Harrison TA, Albanes D, Berndt SI, Brenner H, Caan BJ, et al.. Meta-analysis of 16 studies of the association of alcohol with colorectal cancer. Int J Cancer. 2020. PMID 31037736 · DOI · PMC6819207
- Bresin K, Mekawi Y, Verona E. The effect of laboratory manipulations of negative affect on alcohol craving and use: A meta-analysis. Psychol Addict Behav. 2018. PMID 30010350 · DOI · PMC6136957
- Li Y, Li H, Zhang D. Timing of norepinephrine initiation in patients with septic shock: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2020. PMID 32762765 · DOI · PMC7409707
- Patel N, Chong KW, Yip AYG, Ierodiakonou D, Bartra J, Boyle RJ, et al.. Use of multiple epinephrine doses in anaphylaxis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021. PMID 33862009 · DOI · PMC8588837
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.