Abstract
Increasing evidence points at a role for the immune system in the genesis of the alcohol hangover. This study investigated the association between self-reported immune function and experiencing hangovers. Dutch students aged 18 to 30 years old were invited to complete an online survey. Eighteen items on immune-related complaints were completed to assess self-reported immune function. Alcohol consumption in the past month (with respect to usual consumption and the occasion of heaviest drinking) was also recorded. Subjects with an estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) of 0.18% or higher on their heaviest drinking occasion in the prior month were included in the analyses. Self-reported immune function was compared between drinkers with a hangover and those who claimed to be hangover resistant. In total, of 481 subjects (79.2% women) with a mean (SD) age of 21.1 (1.9) years old were included in the analysis. Of these, 83.3% (n = 400) reported having hangovers and 16.8% (n = 81) claimed to be hangover resistant. Drinkers with hangovers had significantly higher self-reported overall immune function scores when compared to hangover-resistant drinkers (mean ± SD = 10.5 ± 3.6 versus 13.1 ± 4.9, p = 0.0001), indicating a poorer immune status. In conclusion, experiencing alcohol hangovers is associated with significantly poorer self-reported immune function.
Highlights
The alcohol hangover refers to the combination of mental and physical symptoms experienced the day after a single episode of heavy drinking, starting when the blood alcohol concentration approaches zero [1]
Were foundwere between thebetween overall the overall self-reported immunescore function score and the maximum drinks consumed on the self-reported immune function and the maximum number ofnumber drinks of consumed on the heaviest heaviest drinking in the prior(rmonth
It is important to note that for estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) cut-off values up to 0.18% the hangover-sensitive group consumed significantly more frequent and greater amounts of alcohol and achieved significantly consumed significantly more frequent and greater amounts of alcohol and achieved significantly higher eBACs on their heaviest drinking occasion in the prior month
Summary
The alcohol hangover refers to the combination of mental and physical symptoms experienced the day after a single episode of heavy drinking, starting when the blood alcohol concentration approaches zero [1]. Most social drinkers experience a hangover the day following an evening of heavy drinking, some drinkers claim to be hangover resistant [2,3,4]. A recent study that directly compared social drinkers who experienced hangovers with those who claimed to be hangover resistant revealed that, in general, the characteristics of both groups were comparable. This similarity included their sensitivity to the effects of alcohol, as assessed with the Self-Rating of the Effects of alcohol (SRE) form [5]. Public Health 2018, 15, 1286; doi:10.3390/ijerph15061286 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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