7 months ago
Single Binge Drinking Session Can Cause Leaky Gut
A new study found that even one session of drinking too much alcohol in a short time can hurt your gut.
For men, this means about five drinks in two hours, and for women, it's about four drinks.
This can make your gut 'leaky,' which means bad stuff like bacteria can get into your blood.
The researchers found that special cells in your immune system, called neutrophils, make webs that damage your gut.
But they also found a way to stop this damage using a special enzyme.
So, even if you think a little drinking won't hurt, it can still be bad for your gut.
A single binge drinking session can weaken the gut lining, leading to a 'leaky gut'.
For men, the threshold is roughly five drinks in two hours; for women, it's four drinks.
A 'leaky gut' allows bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation.
Neutrophils release web-like structures called NETs that damage the small intestine.
An enzyme that blocks NETs can prevent gut damage and reduce bacterial leakage.
- Who
- Researchers at Harvard and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre (BIDMC)
- What
- A study on the effects of binge drinking on gut health
- Where
- Conducted at Harvard and BIDMC
- When
- Published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research
- Why
- To understand the impact of short bursts of high-dose alcohol intake on the gut
Key facts
- Study Source
- Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research
- Research Institutions
- Harvard and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre (BIDMC)
- Lead Researcher
- Scott Minchenberg
- Drink Threshold for Men
- 5 drinks in 2 hours
- Drink Threshold for Women
- 4 drinks in 2 hours
- Immune Cells Involved
- Neutrophils
- Web-like Structures
- NETs (Neutrophil Extracellular Traps)
- Preventive Measure
- Enzyme to block NETs

