Binge drinking increases risk of infection

By Maore Ithula

Going on a drinking binge could leave you wide open to infections, a new study finds.

Immunologists — immune system specialists — have found out that taking a lot of alcohol in one session lowers immunity, knocking out proteins essential for fighting off bacteria and viruses, at least for 24 hours.

Scientists at Mississippi State University found that some cytokines — proteins that affect the ability of other cells — were still not "on duty" 24 hours after mice were dosed with alcohol.

Prof Omu Anzala, an immunologist and head of Kenya Aids Vaccine Initiative, says if this protein becomes inactive for any reason an individual gets exposed to opportunistic infections.

Experts say the findings should warn those who drink too much. Dr Emphantus Njagi, an immunologist at Kenyatta National Hospital, says the findings compound problems associated with drinking.

Fighting disease

The study published in BMC Immunology online reports that on a mission to establish whether there exists any relationship between consumption of alcohol and the production of disease-fighting proteins, researchers ran tests on mice.

Authors of the report suggest the ethanol in alcohol suppresses the ability of TLR4 — the protein that triggers the production of cytokines. Cytokines signal an inflammatory response to infections that keep us from getting sick. Anzala says negative effects of ethanol on cells limits the body’s ability to fight disease.

During trials mice given drinking water laced with ethanol could not make key pro-inflammatory proteins.

At the same time, levels of one protein, called interleukin-10 (IL-10) that acts as a brake on the immune system, were increased. IL-10 has an anti-inflammatory role intended to prevent the immune system going into overdrive. It helps the body avoid harmful inflammation, but can also reduce resistance to infection.

Isolated cells

The scientists who carried out the experiments wanted to see if results previously seen in isolated cells could be repeated in living animals.

Experts advise people to stick to sensible drinking guidelines of two bottles per day for women and three for men to stay healthy.

According to research by the Kenya Medical Research Institute, alcohol abuse affects 70 per cent of families in Kenya. In November 2001, over 140 people died and scores of others lost their eyesight after consuming an illegal ethanol-laced drink. In June 2005, illegal brew laced with industrial alcohol caused the deaths of 49 people and 174 others were hospitalised.

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