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Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to both short-term and long-term health problems. However, researchers have discovered a potential solution by genetically engineering a probiotic to express an enzyme called ADH1B, which accelerates the breakdown of alcohol in the body.
In mice studies, those treated with the probiotic showed faster recovery from alcohol exposure and fewer resulting health problems compared to untreated mice. Over consumption of alcohol can result in severe hangovers, characterized by headaches, fatigue, and nausea. Additionally, it is associated with numerous health issues such as heart disease, cirrhosis, and weakened immunity.
The treatment lowered alcohol absorption, extended alcohol tolerance, and accelerated recovery time following alcohol exposure. Although human trials have not yet been conducted, the researchers speculate that this newly developed probiotic could offer a novel approach to minimizing alcohol-related health problems and liver problems in general.
The human body primarily uses forms of an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, or ADH, to metabolize alcohol. But some variants are more effective than others: Some studies have found that a form called ADH1B, found primarily in East Asian and Polynesian populations, is 100 times more active than other variants. Previous studies on mice have shown that viral vectors genetically engineered to express ADH1B can accelerate the breakdown of alcohol.
Motivated by those findings, Scientist Dong and her colleagues looked for a safer delivery method, focusing on the probiotic Lactococcus lactis, a bacterium often used in fermentation. They used molecular cloning to introduce the gene for human ADH1B into a bacterial plasmid, which was then introduced into a strain of L. lactis. Lab tests confirmed that the probiotic secreted the enzyme.
The researchers encapsulated the probiotic to ensure it would survive against stomach acid, then tested it on 3 groups of 5 mice, each exposed to different levels of alcohol. The results were promising and this shows probiotics does not only help improve digestive health by breaking down food but it is now moving towards helping to breakdown alcohol faster.
Source: Microbiology Spectrum 04/2023
In mice studies, those treated with the probiotic showed faster recovery from alcohol exposure and fewer resulting health problems compared to untreated mice. Over consumption of alcohol can result in severe hangovers, characterized by headaches, fatigue, and nausea. Additionally, it is associated with numerous health issues such as heart disease, cirrhosis, and weakened immunity.
The treatment lowered alcohol absorption, extended alcohol tolerance, and accelerated recovery time following alcohol exposure. Although human trials have not yet been conducted, the researchers speculate that this newly developed probiotic could offer a novel approach to minimizing alcohol-related health problems and liver problems in general.
The human body primarily uses forms of an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, or ADH, to metabolize alcohol. But some variants are more effective than others: Some studies have found that a form called ADH1B, found primarily in East Asian and Polynesian populations, is 100 times more active than other variants. Previous studies on mice have shown that viral vectors genetically engineered to express ADH1B can accelerate the breakdown of alcohol.
Motivated by those findings, Scientist Dong and her colleagues looked for a safer delivery method, focusing on the probiotic Lactococcus lactis, a bacterium often used in fermentation. They used molecular cloning to introduce the gene for human ADH1B into a bacterial plasmid, which was then introduced into a strain of L. lactis. Lab tests confirmed that the probiotic secreted the enzyme.
The researchers encapsulated the probiotic to ensure it would survive against stomach acid, then tested it on 3 groups of 5 mice, each exposed to different levels of alcohol. The results were promising and this shows probiotics does not only help improve digestive health by breaking down food but it is now moving towards helping to breakdown alcohol faster.
Source: Microbiology Spectrum 04/2023