Moderate alcohol consumption and the immune system: A review British Journal of Nutrition

Recent does alcohol weaken your immune system have shown that the microbiome modulates immunity in the gut, and in turn, immunity modulates the microbiome in the gut . Only two studies have examined alcohol-induced changes in colonic (Mutlu, Gillevet et al. 2012) and fecal microbiomes (Chen, Yang et al. 2011), and both studies focused on individuals with AUD.

Muhlbauer E, Karsten U, Rottmann M, Rommelspacher H. Impaired immunoglobulin M production by incubation of hybridoma cells with ethanol. Molina PE, McNurlan M, Rathmacher J, Lang CH, Zambell KL, Purcell J, Bohm RP, Zhang P, Bagby GJ, Nelson S. Chronic alcohol accentuates nutritional, metabolic, and immune alterations during asymptomatic simian immunodeficiency virus infection. Mandrekar P, Jeliazkova V, Catalano D, Szabo G. Acute alcohol exposure exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting IkappaB kinase activity and p65 phosphorylation in human monocytes. Mandrekar P, Catalano D, Dolganiuc A, Kodys K, Szabo G. Inhibition of myeloid dendritic cell accessory cell function and induction of T cell anergy by alcohol correlates with decreased IL-12 production.

Respiratory Complications

Empyema occurs outside of the lungs, so doctors must remove it via surgery or by draining it with a needle. Alcohol use can cause respiratory complications such as pneumonia, empyema, respiratory syncytial virus, tuberculosis, lung abscess, and adult respiratory distress syndrome . When alcohol damages the gastrointestinal tract’s barrier, bacteria and toxins can enter the bloodstream easily, potentially leading to septicemia and sepsis. It can cause the heart to become weak and have an irregular beat pattern .

DCs uptake antigens in peripheral tissues which leads to their maturation, and then travel to draining lymph nodes where they present them to T cells . That was what was surprising to many of us as doctors who knew that the lungs were so vulnerable. So not just, you know, a person who’s impacted by alcohol use. Um, the lung is also adversely affected, uh, looking at people with severe drinking, heavier drinking are more likely to develop pneumonia, TB, respiratory virus, RSV infection and acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS.

Ways to Support the Immune System After Drinking

Alcohol misuse can cause short-term effects such as the common cold or gastrointestinal complications, but it can also lead to more serious conditions such as cancer, septicemia, or, liver disease. In contrast to the inhibitory effects of acute alcohol treatment , prolonged exposure of human peripheral blood monocytes to 25mM ethanol for 7 days increased LPS-induced TNF-α production without affecting IL-10 production (Pang, Bala et al. 2011).

NIAAA also includes a category for binge drinking — drinking a very large amount of alcohol in a short amount of time. While the actual definition is based on an individual’s change in blood alcohol levels, the NIAAA states that, in an average adult, drinking four or more drinks for women or five or more for men in two hours will typically be considered binge drinking.

Molecular Mechanisms of Dose Dependent Modulation of Immunity

Alcohol consumption also damages epithelial cells, T cells, and neutrophils in the GI system, disrupting gut barrier function and facilitating leakage of microbes into the circulation . The immune system is susceptible to even small changes in the body’s chemical balance. Long-term alcohol abuse can trigger autoimmune disorders, such as insulin-dependent diabetes and liver disease. “Risky drinkers” make up 30% of alcohol drinkers in the United States.

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