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Drinking changes young adults' metabolite profile

Date:
June 29, 2018
Source:
University of Eastern Finland
Summary:
Adolescent drinking is associated with changes in the metabolite profile, a new study shows. The researchers observed metabolite profile changes even in young people who consumed alcohol at a level that is socially acceptable.
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Adolescent drinking is associated with changes in the metabolite profile, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital shows. Some of these changes were found to correlate with reduced brain grey matter volume, especially in young women who are heavy drinkers. The findings shed new light on the biological implications of adolescent drinking, and could contribute to the development of new treatments.

"For instance, heavy-drinking adolescents showed increased concentrations of 1-methylhistamine, which, in turn, was associated with reduced brain grey matter volume," Researcher Noora Heikkinen from the University of Eastern Finland explains.

1-methylhistamine is formed in the brain from histamine produced by immune responses.

"Our findings suggest that the production of histamine is increased in the brains of heavy-drinking adolescents. This observation can help in the development of methods that make it possible to detect adverse effects caused by alcohol at a very early stage. Possibly, it could also contribute to the development of new treatments to mitigate these adverse effects."

The study was a 10-year follow-up study among adolescents living in eastern Finland. The researchers determined the metabolite profiles of heavy- and light-drinking young adults, and used MRI to measure their brain grey matter volumes. These two methods have not been used in combination before, although previous studies have shown an association between heavy drinking and metabolite profile changes.

"What is new and significant about our study is the fact that we observed metabolite profile changes even in young people who consumed alcohol at a level that is socially acceptable. Moreover, none of the study participants had a diagnosis of alcohol dependence."

The findings indicate that even drinking that is not considered excessive has adverse effects on young people, both on their metabolism and brain grey matter volume, on the latter of which the research group has published findings already earlier.

"Although adolescent drinking is declining on average, we can see polarization: some adolescents are very heavy drinkers and they also use other substances," Heikkinen adds.


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Materials provided by University of Eastern Finland. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Noora Heikkinen, Olli Kärkkäinen, Eila Laukkanen, Virve Kekkonen, Outi Kaarre, Petri Kivimäki, Mervi Könönen, Vidya Velagapudi, Jatin Nandania, Soili M. Lehto, Eini Niskanen, Ritva Vanninen, Tommi Tolmunen. Changes in the serum metabolite profile correlate with decreased brain grey matter volume in moderate-to-heavy-drinking young adults. Alcohol, 2018; DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2018.05.010

Cite This Page:

University of Eastern Finland. "Drinking changes young adults' metabolite profile." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 June 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180629102545.htm>.
University of Eastern Finland. (2018, June 29). Drinking changes young adults' metabolite profile. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 6, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180629102545.htm
University of Eastern Finland. "Drinking changes young adults' metabolite profile." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180629102545.htm (accessed December 6, 2024).

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