Effects of moderate beer consumption on first-line immunity of healthy adults

ABSTRACT

Moderate alcohol consumption has shown to induce benefits on host specific(cell-mediated and humoral) immune system, but there is scarce literature regardingfirst-line immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate differences innon-specific immunity after alcohol abstention and moderate beer consumption inhealthy adults. After a 30 day-alcohol abstemious period, 57 healthy volunteers weresubmitted to a daily moderate consumption of beer (330 mL for women and 660 mLfor men, respectively) during the following 30 days. White blood cell counts andphagocytic and oxidative burst activity were evaluated at three points a) basal, b)abstemious, c) after moderate consumption of beer. Absolute values of leukocytes,neutrophils, lymphocytes and basophiles (x109/L) increased significantly in womenfrom point b to point c (6.34 ± 1.26 vs. 7.27 ± 1.97, 3.43 ± 0.88 vs. 4.13 ± 1.53,2.14 ± 0.50 vs. 2.38 ± 0.63, and 0.05 ± 0.02 vs. 0.06 ± 0.03, respectively; p< 0.05) aswell as basophils in men (0.05±0.03 vs. 0.06±0.03). A significant increase of oxidativeburst capacity was also observed after the moderate consumption of beer in bothwomen (33.90 ± 19.00 vs. 48.86 ± 21.83) and men (27.39 ± 18.13 vs. 39.25 ± 24.53).In healthy adults, after 30 days of moderate beer consumption the parameter describingthe non-specific immunity improved when compared to the basal situation. Forseveral of these parameters, the response is more enhanced in women (AU)

RESUMEN

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