Auto-Brewery Syndrome Symptoms and Treatment

Auto-Brewery Syndrome Symptoms and Treatment More in Addiction Alcohol Use Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand Risk Factors Symptoms Prevalence Associated Complications Treatment Auto-brewery syndrome is a rare condition, first discovered in the 1940s, in which a person experiences alcohol intoxication by creating alcohol in their own body. These individuals do not drink alcohol, yet their body produces alcohol through “abnormal gut fermentation,” which basically means that their body makes alcohol out of regular food and drinks containing carbohydrates by fermenting it in the intestine with yeast or bacteria that live in that part of the body. The condition is also sometimes called “endogenous ethanol fermentation.” Risk Factors Fermentation in the gut is a normal part of the digestive process and happens through the breakdown of food by normal bacteria in the colon. However, in people with auto-brewery syndrome, fermentation happens in the small intestine, further up the digestive tract. Certain fungi have been found to be responsible for producing alcohol, such as Candida glabrata and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.?? Normally, the liver can detoxify the tiny amounts of alcohol which are by-products of yeast fermentation, but in people with abnormal gut fermentation, too much alcohol is produced and causes the person to become intoxicated. Symptoms There are many symptoms resulting from the condition,?? and perhaps surprisingly to those who drink alcohol recreationally, they are not pleasant. They include: Problems with concentration, memory, and thought processesFatigue or feeling very tiredAches and painsStomach painBloating, gasChanges in bowel movementsDischarge from the nose, a productive cough, and sinusitisSugar cravings Prevalence Although the condition is very rare, cases have been reported in men, women, and children. There have been reports in several different countries, including Africa, Japan, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. While auto-brewery syndrome can occur in healthy individuals, it is most prevalent in people with the following comorbid conditions:?? DiabetesObesity-related liver diseaseChrohns diseaseShort bowel syndrome Associated Complications There are several types of problems that can occur as a result of the condition. As well as the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, people may experience social and relationship problems as a result. Friends, family, and co-workers may believe the person is a heavy drinker, and as denial is common among people who drink too much, denying that they have been drinking may not help. A 13-year-old girl with the condition was thought to be showing adolescent behavior disorder, including both her symptoms of intoxication and her denial of drinking any alcohol, but, after being restricted from access to alcohol in a rehab center, showed the same signs and symptoms of drunkenness.?? Some people have even got in trouble for drunk driving, as the alcohol may show up on a breathalyzer test. There are also physical problems that can develop, in particular, the small intestine may become more permeable, causing deficiencies in B vitamins, zinc and magnesium.?? These vitamins and minerals are important in maintaining good health, and not having enough is a type of malnutrition. Treatment The main treatments for the condition are changes to diet to reduce intake of simple sugars, refined carbohydrates, yeast products, and moldy foods, and medications to reduce the fungi and bacteria thought to be responsible in the gut.?? Vitamin and mineral supplements may also be needed to address the deficiencies in these nutrients.