Single Binge Drinking Episode Substantially Increases Endotoxin Level

A single episode of binge drinking can have serious negative health repercussions, according to a new study.

Researchers found that one session of binge drinking can result in bacteria leaking from the gut, as well as increased levels of toxins in the blood. Endotoxins—toxins contained in the cell wall of certain bacteria that are released when a cell dies—cause fever, inflammation, and tissue destruction.
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“We found that a single alcohol binge can elicit an immune response, potentially impacting the health of an otherwise healthy individual,” said Gyongzi Szabo, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, vice chair of the Department of Medicine, and associate dean for clinical and translational sciences at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. “Our observations suggest that an alcohol binge is more dangerous than previously thought.”

In the study, 11 men and 14 women (age 21-56) with no history of alcohol abuse were given enough alcohol to raise their blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 g/dL within an hour. Blood was drawn at baseline, and every 30 minutes for the first 4 hours, and again after 24 hours post-consumption.

In normal volunteers, binge drinking resulted in a maximum blood alcohol level (BAL) at 60 minutes after consumption with a gradual decline afterwards. Women had a slower decrease in BAL compared to men, even after 24 hours.

Serum endotoxin levels rapidly increased by 30 minutes, remained elevated for 3 hours, and returned to lower than baseline by 24 hours. Serum endotoxin levels were higher in woman after alcohol intake, with a significant difference at 4 hours post-consumption.

Researchers also found evidence of bacterial DNA in the bloodstream, which indicated that bacteria had permeated the gut. Earlier studies have tied chronic alcohol use to increased gut permeability.

–Pooja Shah

References:

Bala S, Marcos M, Gattu A, et al. Acute binge drinking increases serum endotoxin and bacterial DNA levels in healthy individuals. PLOS One. 2014 May 14. soi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096864

Fessenden J. Single episode of binge adversely affects health [press release]. UMass Med Now. 2014 May 15. www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2014/05/Single-episode-of-binge-drinking-adversely-affects-health/. Accessed May 20, 2014.