Alcohol damages our genes or why alcoholism is hereditary

Drunkenness, addiction, hardening of the liver… These are the known negative effects of alcohol. But this legal drug is much more insidious because it interferes directly with our DNA. It can alter the activity of many genes, and many of these negative changes are even passed on to the next generation.

It is not just the alcohol itself that harms us. The substances that are produced in the body during its processing are also problematic. These cause changes in two biochemical reactions – primarily in the so-called methylation of genes, but also partly in the so-called acetylation of histones. These two reactions are essential for the functioning of our body. They determine which genes in our DNA will be switched on (i.e. they will be used to make proteins), and which ones will be switched off (which is the same as if they were not in the cells at all).

Alcohol also reduces the concentration of substances in the body that act as methyl donors, i.e. they release methyl, a chemical group involved in the methylation process – in particular a substance called S-adenosylmethionine and folic acid. Chronic alcohol consumption thus leads, in particular, to a significant reduction in the number of methylated genes.

In addition, excessive drinking increases the body’s production of oxygen free radicals, which firstly directly attack and damage cells and tissues and secondly cause further negative epigenetic changes.

It damages the liver and the brain

Everyone knows that alcohol is bad for the liver. However, it is not just because it is a toxin that needs to be broken down in the liver. Negative epigenetic changes are also to blame, causing a number of liver problems and diseases, including cirrhosis and cancer (in particular the aforementioned reduced methylation).

Another well-known fact is the negative effect of alcohol on cognitive processes – it is popularly said to “kill brain cells”. This is, of course, a distorted explanation, but it is true that alcohol very negatively affects a number of epigenetic processes directly in the human brain. This can not only lead to a reduction in intellectual ability, but also increases the risk of certain mental health problems, particularly depression and anxiety.

Moreover, animal experiments have shown that alcohol can seriously disrupt circadian rhythms, the internal biological clock. This translates not only into sleep disturbances, but also further impairment of cognitive processes, acceleration of overall ageing and an increased risk of certain serious diseases, including diabetes and cancer.

Alcoholic father = alcoholic son?

Alarmingly, many of the negative epigenetic changes caused by excessive drinking are passed on to offspring at conception. In one study, for example, young mice were given alcohol 6 times, mated, and then scientists examined the epigenetic changes in the brains of their offspring. When their father was exposed to alcohol, an average of 96 genes were methylated. In the case of maternal exposure (not during gestation, but only before), there were already 159 genes, and in the case of both parents, as many as 244 genes! Of course, it is not certain that the results would be the same in humans, but at least a high degree of similarity is to be expected.

It is the inheritance of negative epigenetic changes that is probably why children of alcoholics are at much greater risk of developing alcohol dependence themselves – even if they do not grow up in the same family as an alcoholic and are therefore not copycats. A father’s excessive drinking is much more risky than a mother’s in this respect. Changes in the methylation level acquired from the father not only make the children more susceptible to anxiety and depression, but also more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. Both are risk factors for addiction.

Age matters

Long-term excessive alcohol consumption is understandably harmful at any age. In general, however, the body is most sensitive to any epigenetic influences (positive and negative) during periods of intense growth and development. It is therefore particularly dangerous if alcohol is regularly consumed by -teenagers. In this case, not only is the damage done directly to the consumer’s organism much greater, but the number of negative epigenetic changes that are passed on to their offspring in the future is also increased.

The worst thing is, of course, when a pregnant woman indulges in alcohol. The consequence is serious brain damage and the development of a number of developmental defects and fetal disorders. Alcohol disrupts the folic acid cycle, which is important for the correct methylation processes, and its deficiency leads, for example, to a major disruption in the development of the nervous system. In addition, it reduces the intensity of the reactions in the body that produce the basic building blocks of DNA itself, which can seriously impair cell division.

This is because the fetus in the womb is the most susceptible to epigenetic influences, and it cannot produce the enzymes that break down alcohol, so its blood alcohol level is higher than the mother’s. Thus, serious damage can occur even with relatively moderate drinking that does not cause drunkenness in the mother.

Genes under control

Fortunately, the common feature of all epigenetic changes is that they are largely reversible, and this is true even for those caused by excessive alcohol consumption. The first step, of course, should be to reduce it significantly. But much of the damage already done to our DNA can be mitigated or even reversed by positive changes in our entire lifestyle. Of course, this will not cure advanced cirrhosis or dementia, but the results will be not insignificant.

The basis should be a balanced healthy diet with a reduction of carbohydrates and harmful fats, regular exercise and avoidance of toxins from food and the environment. Dietary supplements containing epigenetic nutrients and herbs with epigenetic effects can be a great help. Their use is not only suitable for people burdened by long-term alcohol consumption, but also as a prevention of negative epigenetic changes in times of suddenly increased drinking – such as the one that many people expect in the second half of December.

Resveratrol

This substance is naturally occurring, especially in red wine (it gets into it from the grape skins), which is interesting because it can protect the body from the negative effects of alcohol. It promotes liver regeneration and protects nerve cells from damage. It is also interesting to note that, in conjunction with a small amount of red wine (100 ml of wine + 200 mg of resveratrol), resveratrol was able to significantly improve scores on cognitive tests and alleviate mental fatigue with immediate effect. This combination also had a significant positive effect on mood.

OPC

A group of substances called oligomeric proanthocyanidins are abundant in grape seeds and therefore, like resveratrol, also in red wine. It has significant antioxidant effects and effectively protects liver cells from damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption. OPCs can be taken together with resveratrol.

Rosemary

Rosemary extract has not only strong antioxidant but also epigenetic effects. It is particularly good at supporting the body’s protection against the effects of toxic chemicals, not excluding alcohol of course. This is especially true for liver and nerve cells. Rosemary can also be combined with resveratrol, and interesting effects have been observed when it is used together with olive leaf extract (olive juice extract or olive oil directly is likely to work similarly).