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Written By: Agencies | Updated : May 19, 2014 10:16 AM IST
Washington, May 18 (PTI) If you thought it is okay to binge drink once in a while, you need to think again. Scientists have now figured out what happens inside your body when you do so. A single alcohol binge session can cause bacteria to leak from the gut and increase levels of bacterial toxins in the blood, researchers said.
Increased levels of these bacterial toxins, called endotoxins, were shown to affect the immune system, with the body producing more immune cells involved in fever, inflammation, and tissue destruction. Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08g/dL or above. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming five or more drinks for men, or four or more drinks for women, in about two hours. Some individuals will reach a 0.08g/dL BAC sooner depending on body weight.
Binge drinking is known to pose health and safety risks, including car crashes and injuries. Over the long term, binge drinking can damage the liver and other organs.
"While the negative health effects of chronic drinking are well-documented, this is a key study to show that a single alcohol binge can cause damaging effects such as bacterial leakage from the gut into the blood stream," said Dr George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of National Institutes of Health (NIH). Read about alcohol damage caused to the liver and how it keeps you from your exercise regime.
In the study led by Gyongyi Szabo, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, 11 men and 14 women were given enough alcohol to raise their blood alcohol levels to at least 0.08 g/dL within an hour. Blood samples were taken every 30 minutes for four hours after the binge and again 24 hours later. The researchers found that the alcohol binge resulted in a rapid increase in endotoxin levels in the blood and evidence of bacterial DNA, showing that bacteria had permeated the gut. Endotoxins are toxins contained in the cell wall of certain bacteria that are released when the cell is destroyed.
Compared to men, women had higher blood alcohol levels and circulating endotoxin levels. "We found that a single alcohol binge can elicit an immune response, potentially impacting the health of an otherwise healthy individual," said Szabo. "Our observations suggest that an alcohol binge is more dangerous than previously thought," said Szabo.
The research appears in the journal PLOS ONE.
What does alcohol do to your liver?
When you drink alcohol made primarily of ethanol your liver works overtime to convert the ethanol into acetic acid. This is then converted into a less toxic form called acetate, which is eventually removed from the body as urine.
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Well, all this converting and watering down of large amounts of toxins, divertes the liver from its primary functions like providing glucose. Glucose is extremely important for your brain to function. The lack glucose or hypoglycaemia is one of the main reasons you suffer from a hangover, feel lethargic, have lowered cognitive functions and suffer from nausea, vomiting, headaches and fatigue. Mind you these are the short term effects. (Read: What alcohol does to your liver)
Long term effects
The long term effects are far worse. It takes a toll on all liver functions. Apart from fatty foods, excessive alcohol consumption the primary causes for all liver diseases. The fat deposited due to absorption of alcohol leads to fatty liver disease and causes inflammation of the liver which leads to alcoholic hepatitis (one of the first stages of alcoholic liver disease), this can then progress to fibrosis (thickening of connecting tissues) or cirrhosis (a chronic liver disease marked by cell degeneration, inflammation and advanced fibrosis).
Though the liver is a remarkably resilient organ (it can function normally even after losing 70% of its mass), cirrhosis, is a death knell for the liver. It leads to its complete shutdown by preventing the free flow of blood leading to accumulation of waste and toxins in the body. The symptoms of cirrhosis are usually only visible when it has progressed to an advanced stage and may occur either simultaneously or gradually. By that time very little can be done for the patient. (Read: Alcohol abuse what you need to know)
Alcohol can mess up your fitness regime
If you're serious about losing weight or bulking up then you need to quit drinking now. Alcohol can absolutely wreck your goals and prevent you from achieving a dream body.
It's very high on calories
One of the most important aspects of bodybuilding is making sure that you consume food that will aid muscle growth and help you cut body fat. Booze is not one of those things. All different kinds of booze are very high in calories. Here's a table chart for you. And remember no one stops at one drink.
Drink | Calories* |
Whisky (30ml) | 111 |
Vodka (30 ml) | 55 |
Beer (650ml) | 208 |
Wine (120ml) | 89 |
It promotes fat gain
Bodybuilding.com editor-at-large Kris Gethin writes in his book, The Bodybuilding.com Guide to Your Best Body: 'Alcohol, even antioxidant-rich red wine, has calories that do nothing to fuel your workouts and fuel only the fat deposits around your waist. Studies have shown that alcohol can increase cortisol levels, which promote fat gain, especially in the abdominal region which should definitely be avoided when you are looking to trim down and show off a six-pack.' Also the body sees alcohol as a toxic substance and attempts to get rid of it. This means your body will significantly reduce fat-burning to about 75% of its normal capacity after just one and a half drinks. It will also stop using carbs as energy which is why after a few drinks your body tends to accumulate more weight. Read why alcohol is bad for your fitness regime.
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