Biochemistry 4th Edition by Christopher Mathews,Kensal van Holde, Dean Appling, Spencer Anthony Cahill

Exercise 2

Methanol is highly toxic, not because of its own biological activity but because it is converted metabolically to formaldehyde, through action of alcohol dehydrogenase. Part of the medical treatment for methanol poisoning involves administration of large doses of ethanol. Explain why this treatment is effective.