Did you know that you can feel dizzy and drunk without drinking alcohol? Yes, that’s right you can now become known as a Lord of the Rings. There is a condition where your gut can make its own ethanol and cause fermentation. In fact, it is a very rare disease but it can affect your body in many ways. This condition is also called intoxication and it can make you intoxicated in unusual ways. Auto Brewery Disease or Intestinal Fermentation Syndrome can cause some health problems and lifestyle challenges. Let us know about this condition and its symptoms.
What is Auto Brewery Syndrome?
Talked to Dr. Ankush Chowdhury, Senior Gastroenterologist, Vojart Healthcare Hospital, Bangalore to know more about this condition. He explained that this condition occurs when the body converts sugary and starchy foods into alcohol. Auto Brewery Syndrome can be particularly difficult to diagnose because it can be mistaken for other conditions, especially alcoholism. Auto Brewery Syndrome makes your blood alcohol level 3-4 times higher than normal which leads to serious lifestyle problems.
This syndrome has been highlighted several times in the last few years because many people who do not even drink alcohol get this disease. This can lead to a confusing and tedious medical situation that can sometimes lead to serious problems for a person. In most of these highlighted cases, some of them were even arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Also read – Intestinal Health Special: Learn From Your Doctor How To Keep Your Digestive System Healthy
Symptoms of Auto Brewery Syndrome
Okay, this is a very common disease and can lead to many complications, but the symptoms can be very clear and easily experienced-
- Feeling drunk without drinking
- Extreme dizziness after drinking a small amount of alcohol
- Red or flush skin
- Dizziness
- Disoriented
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- Burping or belching
- Fatigue
- Problems with memory and concentration
- Mood swings or mood swings
What Causes Auto Brewery Syndrome?
In this condition, your body makes ethanol from the carbohydrates you eat. It occurs inside the intestinal tract. The cause may vary from person to person, but it is usually caused by too much yeast in the gut. Yeast is a type of fungus that can affect your gut health.
Here are some of the yeast functions that can affect Brewery Syndrome:
- Candida Albicans
- Candida globrata
- Toruloposis glabrata
- Candida Cruise
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Who can get this drunken disease?
Both adults and children can be affected by this disease. The symptoms are the same but it is especially difficult and more serious if it occurs in children. Auto Brewery Syndrome is a complication of another disease. It can also be due to some imbalance in the body or due to infection.
It is possible that you may get this syndrome because there is another congenital condition that triggers auto-brewery disease. Excessive yeast in the gut can also cause Brewery syndrome. Adults with Crohn’s disease can have this problem.
People with liver problems may also get auto-brewery syndrome. In this case, the liver is not able to clear the alcohol. Even small amounts of alcohol made from intestinal yeast can lead to autoimmune disease symptoms.
Read more – World Liver Day 2022: The Benefits and Risks of Survival-Donor Liver Transplant
In infants and young children, this can happen, as Short Bowel Syndrome is more likely to cause Auto Brewery Syndrome. There was an incident where a 3 year old girl got short bowel syndrome and would get drunk after drinking fruit juice. This is because fruit juices contain a lot of natural carbohydrates.
Other causes of this condition may include:
- Low nutrient content
- Antibiotics
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Diabetes
- Low immune function or system
Complications of Auto Brewery Syndrome
In most cases, this syndrome does not cause any major complications or disorders. But it can lead to some bad health conditions like-
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Annoying stomach problems
- Depression and anxiety
- Fainting
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