How Does Alcohol Consumption Affect the Immune System?

Fatty liver is usually completely reversible in about four to six weeks if you completely abstain from drinking alcohol. Cirrhosis, on the other hand, is irreversible and likely to lead to liver failure despite abstinence from alcohol, according to Dr. Menon. Your liver detoxifies and removes alcohol from the blood through a process known as oxidation.

• Alcohol metabolism can also take place in the pancreas by acinar and pancreatic stellate cells, which contributes to the development of alcoholic pancreatitis (Vonlaufen, Wilson et al. 2007).
• It is an immediate and rapid response that is activated by any pathogen it encounters (i.e., is nonspecific); in addition, it plays a key role in the activation of the second level of the immune response, termed the adaptive or acquired immunity.
• The observed decrease in expression of NFκB is in line with earlier studies examining decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production with moderate alcohol consumption.
• Alcohol acts as a catalyst for inflammation, triggering your body’s inflammatory response.
• These effects might not last very long, but that doesn’t make them insignificant.
• Chronic alcohol exposure also seems to cause loss of peripheral B cells, while simultaneously inducing increased production of immunoglobulins.

Alcohol metabolism can also take place in the pancreas by acinar and pancreatic stellate cells, which contributes to the development of alcoholic pancreatitis (Vonlaufen, Wilson et al. 2007). Additional studies are required to fully understand the role of ethanol metabolites and adducts in the development of alcoholic liver injury and organ damage. The immune system is typically categorized into the innate and adaptive immune response systems, both of which are essential components in the body’s defense against pathogens.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

ADH is present in the cytosol whereas CYP2E1 is present predominantly in microsomes. Both enzymes convert alcohol to acetaldehyde, which is further metabolized to acetate by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in the mitochondria. Acetate is then released into the blood where it is oxidized to carbon dioxide in the heart, skeletal muscle, and brain (Zakhari 2006). A good place to start to receive treatment for alcohol use is to talk to your healthcare provider. They may be able to give you prescriptions, provide referrals to therapists, or talk to you about treatment programs.

Corticosteroids are one example, as are TNF inhibitors for inflammation and chemotherapy for cancer. For more information about alcohol’s effects on the body, please visit the Interactive Body feature on NIAAA’s College Drinking Prevention website. 3The HIV (or SIV) set point is the stable viral load that is established in an HIV-infected person does alcohol suppress immune system after the initial phase of the infection, when the person’s immune systems tries to fight the virus. The higher the viral load of the set point, the faster infection will progress to full-blown AIDS. Ethanol is primarily metabolized in the stomach and liver by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) (Zakhari 2006).

Alcohol, other drugs, and health: Current Evidence

Across cultures and traditions, people worldwide drink alcohol when celebrating, socializing, and relaxing. While often perceived as a harmless indulgence, alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects on our health. 2The different immunoglobulin classes are involved in different aspects of the immune response.

Excessive drinking may affect your menstrual cycle and potentially increase your risk for infertility. Chronic drinking can affect your heart and lungs, raising your risk of developing heart-related health issues. If your body can’t manage and balance your blood sugar levels, you may experience greater complications and side effects related to diabetes. Alcohol use can begin to take a toll on anyone’s physical and mental well-being over time. These effects may be more serious and more noticeable if you drink regularly and tend to have more than 1 or 2 drinks when you do. The occasional quarantine cocktail isn’t going to inhibit the immune system or set you on a path to alcohol misuse.

Neuroimmune Function and the Consequences of Alcohol Exposure

As a result, bacteria may leak from the GI tract into your bloodstream, which can itself make you sick. Also, bacteria that escape this area can change the immune system in your liver, which can lead to inflammation and, potentially, alcoholic liver disease. The researchers emphasize that although their research suggests moderate alcohol consumption may benefit the immune system, they do not recommend that people with a history of alcohol abuse start to drink based on these findings. It is important to note that only some early research studies find a positive relationship between alcohol use and health. Whether or not moderate alcohol consumption has health benefits is not conclusive.