Buzz
Non-drinkers might assume their livers are safe from the harmful effects of alcohol, but recent findings suggest that even those who abstain from alcohol or drink only lightly may have reason for concern. A specific type of gut bacteria has been discovered to produce alcohol—enough to potentially lead to serious health issues, including liver disease.
A study led by Jing Yuan at the Capital Institute of Pediatrics in Beijing, China, and published in the journal Cell Metabolism provides more insight. Researchers examined a patient with auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), a rare condition caused by the fermentation of sugary foods, which leads to high blood alcohol levels. Interestingly, instead of finding fermenting yeast responsible for the condition, the patient’s stool contained Klebsiella pneumonia, a common gut bacterium capable of alcohol production. In this case, K. pneumonia was producing alcohol in larger quantities than in healthy individuals.
The patient also had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition marked by the accumulation of fat in the liver. While NAFLD is often mild, excessive fat can become toxic. In a study of 43 other NAFLD patients, researchers found that K. pneumonia was present and notably active, producing more alcohol than normal in 60 percent of subjects with NAFLD. In contrast, only 6.25 percent of the control group had an alcohol surplus.
In an effort to investigate the connection further, researchers introduced the bacteria to healthy, germ-free mice. Within just one month, the mice began showing an increase in liver fat. While this doesn’t conclusively prove that the bacteria causes NAFLD, it suggests the need for further human studies.
The exact way K. pneumonia interacts with the gut’s bacterial composition is still unknown, as is the reason some people carry more potent strains of the bacteria. Fortunately, K. pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics, providing hope for individuals who may never drink but still suffer from liver damage.
