Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have announced an experimental probiotic that can prevent organ damage from alcohol. Research published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum.
Most of the alcohol consumed by humans is processed in the liver with the help of two enzymes. One of them, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), begins to act relatively quickly by breaking down ethanol into acetaldehyde, a less harmful compound. The therapy developed by the scientists uses ADH1B, a natural variant of ADH found mainly in East Asian and Polynesian populations and more active than other forms of ADH. In other words, it breaks down ethanol faster.
Scientists have created genetically modified bacteria Lactococcus lactisIt is used to make cheese by teaching how to make the human ADH1B enzyme. It was then tested on mice exposed to varying levels of alcohol. Mice treated with the modified bacteria recovered from alcohol exposure faster than untreated mice.
Researchers think that oral bacteria process alcohol in the gut, thereby reducing the amount of alcohol absorbed into the bloodstream.
Further experiments showed that mice given probiotics showed fewer signs of acute liver injury and intestinal inflammation. Scientists hope to conduct human experiments soon.