Ethyl alcohol, contained in alcoholic beverages, cannot be used directly by the body as a source of energy. Instead, the alcohol that is consumed goes to the liver, where it is converted into fat and carbohydrates. Glycerin is a by-product of fat metabolism. It can also be ingested as an ingredient in some foods. Glycerin is metabolized much like carbohydrates, except that there is no corresponding increase in either insulin levels or blood glucose.
Sugar alcohols are chemically alcohols, but they are derived from sugar molecules.
They are much slower to be absorbed from the intestine than sugars and are metabolized differently. Therefore, they have little or no effect on insulin production. Sugar alcohols are partially metabolized by the flora of the large intestine, which may produce intestinal gas. The three major nutrients are used by the body in different ways. Fats are also used for energy, but they are also important as a body mass builder.