New research carried out by the University of Massachusetts Medical School has revealed that just one episode of binge drinking can cause more harm to health than was previously thought. The damage results from bacteria leaking from the gut into the bloodstream and releasing toxins known as endotoxins. A single session of binge drinking can result in these toxins in the blood increasing to levels that can trigger immune cells involved in fever, inflammation and tissue destruction.
Dr Gyongyi Szabo who led the research said: "Our observations suggest that an alcohol binge is more dangerous than previously thought. We found that a single alcohol binge can elicit an immune response, potentially impacting the health of an otherwise healthy individual."
For their study, the team invited 11 men and 14 women to consume alcoholic drinks that raised their blood alcohol to 0.08g/dL within an hour. They also took blood samples from the volunteers every half hour for 4 hours, then again 24 hours later.
When they analysed the blood samples, the researchers found signs of rapid increases in endotoxins and evidence of bacterial DNA, indicating the bacteria had moved from the gut to the bloodstream. The female participants showed higher blood alcohol levels and higher levels of circulating endotoxins.
There is evidence that chronic alcohol use is linked to increased permeability of the gut, which allows harmful substances to get into the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body.
Earlier studies have also linked greater gut permeability and higher levels of endotoxins in the blood to many of the health problems associated with chronic drinking, such as alcoholic liver disease.
The findings of the study are reported in the journal PLOS ONE.
