Even a single episode of binge drinking, defined as around four drinks for women or five for men in a two-hour span, can harm the gut lining, a study reveals. This study, published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, indicates that binge drinking can reduce the gut’s ability to prevent bacteria and toxins from entering the bloodstream, leading to a condition known as “leaky gut.” Professor Gyongyi Szabo from Harvard Medical School highlighted that short bouts of binge drinking can trigger inflammation and weaken the gut barrier, potentially initiating alcohol-related gut and liver damage.
The research conducted by Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the US sheds light on how binge drinking impacts the gut and why this damage can result in harmful inflammation long after drinking stops. The study examined the effects of short bursts of high-dose alcohol on various parts of the gut. The findings suggest that even brief instances of heavy drinking can cause harm by attracting immune cells to the gut lining, which can lead to the release of damaging structures and weaken the gut barrier.
Neutrophils, a type of immune cell, were found to release web-like structures called NETs that directly harm the upper small intestine, contributing to the weakening of the gut barrier and allowing bacterial toxins to enter the bloodstream. By blocking these NETs with a simple enzyme that breaks them down, researchers observed a decrease in immune cells in the gut lining and reduced bacterial leakage, effectively preventing gut damage.
