How does heavy drinking hinder our body’s ability to recover from burns?

Researchers from the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine Alcohol Research Program (ARP) and Burn and Shock Trauma Research Institute (BSTRI) have found that being intoxicated at the time of a burn injury can disrupt your gut microbiome—and make it harder for your body to recover. 

“Alcohol use remains a major risk factor leading to traumatic injury,” said Professor and BSTRI Co-Director Mashkoor A. Choudhry, an author of study. “Furthermore, studies from BSTRI/ARP and others show that alcohol use also contributes to harmful effects of burn on the body.” 

Patients who were intoxicated when they sustained burn injuries faced higher rates of sepsis and mortality compared to those with burns alone. According to the study published earlier this year, compromised gut health may be a key contributing factor. 

What’s the link between burns and alcohol?

In the U.S., more than half of all people hospitalized for burns have alcohol in their system when they’re admitted. These cases tend to be more complicated: they need more fluids, cost more to treat, take longer to recover from, and unfortunately, often have worse outcomes overall. 

A messed-up gut equals more health problems

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that help keep you healthy. But when that balance gets thrown off—like from alcohol and injury—it can cause inflammation and weaken your body’s defense systems. 

The researchers looked at what happens in the gut after a burn, and they found that when alcohol was involved, the good bacteria in the gut took a major hit. That gut imbalance might be one reason why intoxicated burn patients tend to have a harder time healing. 

“This study builds on decades of work that shows the role of the gut microbiome as a factor contributing to post-burn complications,” Choudhry said. “Ongoing studies in our laboratory aim to determine if gut microbiome can be manipulated to improve outcomes in patients who suffer traumatic injuries including burn.” 

Read more stories from the Stritch School of Medicine. 

Header image shows researchers from ARP and BSTRI Mashkoor A. Choudhry and Mary Grace Murray.

Contact the researcher:

Mashkoor A. Choudhry, PhD 
Professor and Co-Director, Burn and Shock Trauma Research Institute 
mchoudhry@luc.edu