Marlou Mackus

Characteristics of social drinkers with and without a hangover after heavy alcohol consumption

Background A number of social drinkers claim that they do not experience next-day hangovers despite consuming large quantities of alcohol. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of drinkers who claim to be hangover immune and compare them with drinkers who do report having hangovers. Methods A total of 36 social drinkers participated in a naturalistic study consisting of a hangover day (alcohol consumed) and a control day (no alcohol consumed). Data were collected on alcohol consumption, demographics, sleep, next-day adverse effects, and mood. Data from drinkers with a hangover (N=18) were compared with data from drinkers who claim to be hangover immune (N=18). Results Drinkers with a hangover reported drowsiness-related symptoms, symptoms related to reduced cognitive functioning, and classic hangover symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, and stomach pain. Corresponding mood changes comprised increased feelings of depression, anger–hostility, fatigue, and reduced vigor–activity. In contrast, hangover-immune drinkers reported relatively few hangover symptoms, with only mild corresponding severity scores. The reported symptoms were limited to drowsiness-related symptoms such as sleepiness and being tired. The classic hangover symptoms were usually not reported by these drinkers. Conclusion In contrast to drinkers with a hangover, for those who claim to be hangover immune, next-day adverse effects of alcohol consumption are limited to a mild increase in drowsiness-related symptoms.

The impact of alcohol hangover symptoms on cognitive and physical functioning, and mood

Hangover research often records the presence and severity of symptoms experienced the day after heavy alcohol consumption. However, usually no information is gathered on the impact of experiencing these symptoms on mood, cognition, and physical activities.

Mental resilience, perceived immune functioning, and health

Background Mental resilience can be seen as a trait that enables an individual to recover from stress and to face the next stressor with optimism. People with resilient traits are considered to have a better mental and physical health. However, there are limited data available assessing the relationship between resilient individuals and their perspective of their health and immune status. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between mental resilience, perceived health, and perceived immune status. Methods A total of 779 participants recruited at Utrecht University completed a questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics, the brief resilience scale for the assessment of mental resilience, the immune function questionnaire (IFQ), and questions regarding their perceived health and immune status. Results When correcting for gender, age, height, weight, smoker status, amount of cigarettes smoked per week, alcohol consumption status, amount of drinks consumed per week, drug use, and frequency of past year drug use, mental resilience was significantly correlated with perceived health (r=0.233, p=0.0001), perceived immune functioning (r=0.124, p=0.002), and IFQ score (r=−0.185, p=0.0001). Conclusion A significant, albeit modest, relationship was found between mental resilience and perceived immune functioning and health.

Total sleep time, alcohol consumption, and the duration and severity of alcohol hangover

Introduction An evening of alcohol consumption often occurs at the expense of sleep time. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between total sleep time and the duration and severity of the alcohol hangover. Methods A survey was conducted among Dutch University students to collect data on their latest alcohol hangover. Data on alcohol consumption, total sleep time, hangover severity, and duration were collected. Alcohol consumption and hangover severity and duration were compared for participants who (a) slept <5 hours, (b) slept between 5 and 7 hours, or (c) slept >7 hours. Results Data from N=578 students (40.1% men and 59.9% women) were included in the statistical analyses. Significant correlations were found between total sleep time and alcohol consumption (r=0.117, p=0.005), hangover severity (r= −0.178, p=0.0001) and hangover duration (r=0.168, p=0.0001). In contrast, total alcohol consumption did not correlate significantly with overall hangover severity or duration. Those who slept longer than 7 hours consumed significantly more alcohol (p=0.016) and reported extended hangover duration (p=0.004). However, they also reported significantly less severe hangovers (p=0.001) than students who slept <7 hours. Conclusion Reduced total sleep time is associated with more severe alcohol hangovers.

The breathtaking truth about breath alcohol readings of zero

INTRODUCTION It has been postulated that the hangover state starts when breath alcohol concentration is zero. METHODS Data from 2 studies that assessed ethanol in breath, blood and urine were compared. RESULTS The data revealed that ethanol may still be present in the blood and urine during the hangover state, despite breath analyser readings of zero. DISCUSSION As ethanol is still present in the body despite zero breath alcohol readings, the current consensus to postpone cognitive testing in hangover studies until breath alcohol concentration is zero should be reconsidered.

Differential Gender Effects in the Relationship between Perceived Immune Functioning and Autistic Traits

Altered immune functioning has been demonstrated in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study explores the relationship between perceived immune functioning and experiencing ASD traits in healthy young adults. N = 410 students from Utrecht University completed a survey on immune functioning and autistic traits. In addition to a 1-item perceived immune functioning rating, the Immune Function Questionnaire (IFQ) was completed to assess perceived immune functioning. The Dutch translation of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) was completed to examine variation in autistic traits, including the domains “social insights and behavior”, “difficulties with change”, “communication”, “phantasy and imagination”, and “detail orientation”. The 1-item perceived immune functioning score did not significantly correlate with the total AQ score. However, a significant negative correlation was found between perceived immune functioning and the AQ subscale “difficulties with change” (r = −0.119, p = 0.019). In women, 1-item perceived immune functioning correlated significantly with the AQ subscales “difficulties with change” (r = −0.149, p = 0.029) and “communication” (r = −0.145, p = 0.032). In men, none of the AQ subscales significantly correlated with 1-item perceived immune functioning. In conclusion, a modest relationship between perceived immune functioning and several autistic traits was found.

Proceeding of the 8th Alcohol Hangover Research Group Meeting

Alcohol hangover is one of the most commonly experienced consequences of alcohol consumption. An alcohol hangover develops as the blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) approaches zero, and is characterized by a general feeling of misery. More insight into the pathology of an alcohol hangover needs to be gained, in order to enhance the understanding of the area, and as a potential contribution to the innovation of a preventative or hangover curing treatment. The Alcohol Hangover Research Group (AHRG) was founded to support the area of alcohol hangover. This proceeding describes the latest findings in the area of alcohol hangovers, and future research plans, discussed at the 8th Alcohol Hangover Research Group meeting, held on June 25, 2016, New Orleans, USA. Novel insight in potential causes, consequences, and treatment of alcohol hangover were revealed during the meeting, as well as further research plans to examine biomarkers of recent alcohol consumption, immune functioning, alcohol metabolism, and potential treatments.

Susceptibility to Alcohol Hangovers: The Association with Self-Reported Immune Status

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.

Alcohol metabolism in hangover sensitive versus hangover resistant social drinkers

BACKGROUND Previous research demonstrated that urinary ethanol concentrations were significantly lower in hangover resistant individuals compared to drinkers who reported having a hangover. This finding suggests that the rate of ethanol metabolism is faster in drinkers who do not experience an alcohol hangover. This study aimed to directly compare alcohol metabolism after administering a low dose of ethanol to hangover sensitive drinkers and hangover resistant drinkers. METHODS Social drinkers who previously participated in hangover trials at Utrecht University were invited to participate. It was aimed to include 12 hangover resistant drinkers and 12 hangover sensitive drinkers. Participants consumed alcohol to reach a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) of 0.05%. Every 5 min BrAC was determined, until BrAC reached zero. Every 15 min, the Karolinska Sleeping Scale (KSS) was administered to assess subjective sleepiness, and subjective intoxication was measured. RESULTS Data of N = 23 participants with a mean age of 22.4 (±1.9) years was included in the analyses. No significant difference in BrAC over time was found between the hangover resistant group and the hangover sensitive group. In line, subjective sleepiness scores and subjective intoxication ratings did not significantly differ between the groups at any point in time after alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION Hangover resistant individuals and hangover sensitive drinkers did not significantly differ on BrAC, subjective sleepiness, and subjective intoxication after consuming a moderate amount of alcohol. These findings suggest that drinkers who usually experience hangovers after a heavy drinking occasion do not experience alcohol intoxication differently than hangover resistant drinkers.

Susceptibility to Alcohol Hangovers: Not Just a Matter of Being Resilient

Introduction Although most drinkers have experienced a hangover the day following heavy alcohol consumption, a minority claims to be hangover resistant despite consuming the same large quantities of alcohol as those reporting alcohol hangover. The aim of the current study was to examine if susceptibility to experiencing hangovers is related to a drinkers interpretation of wellbeing and psychological assets to bounce back. Methods A survey was conducted among 2295 Dutch students assessing their past month alcohol consumption patterns, and measuring mental resilience and wellbeing. Estimated peak blood alcohol concentration (e-pBAC) for their heaviest drinking occasion in the past month was computed for each participant. Data from participants who reported a past month hangover, i.e. hangover sensitive drinkers, were compared with hangover resistant drinkers. The analyses were conducted for (a) all participants reaching an e-pBAC ≥ 0.11% (N = 986, of which 24.6% claimed to be hangover resistant) and (b) participants reaching an e-pBAC ≥ 0.18% (N = 480, of which 16.7% claimed to be hangover resistant). Results For both e-pBAC cut-off values, no significant differences between hangover sensitive and hangover resistant drinkers were found for mental resilience and wellbeing. Conclusion The current findings suggest that having a hangover is not simply an expression of poor psychological coping with the next-day consequences of heavy alcohol consumption.