The Association of Insomnia, Perceived Immune Functioning, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Complaints

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have a significant negative impact on quality of life, mood and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between experiencing IBS symptoms and insomnia, and perceived health status. METHOD: An online survey was conducted among n = 1950 Dutch university students (83.6% women). IBS was assessed with the Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire, quality of life with the WHO-5 wellbeing index, and sleep outcomes with the SLEEP-50 questionnaire. Perceived immune functioning and general health were assessed using 1-item scales. RESULTS: IBS symptom severity was significantly associated with insomnia complaints (r = 0.32, p = 0.0001), sleep quality (r = -0.21, p = 0.0001), sleep onset latency (r = 0.11, p = 0.0001) and the number of nightly awakenings (r = 0.24, p = 0.0001). Total sleep time was not significantly associated with IBS symptom severity. Significant correlations were also found between IBS symptom severity and perceived general health (r = -0.30, p = 0.0001), perceived immune functioning (r= -0.25, p = 0.0001), and quality of life (r = -0.24, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing IBS complaints is associated with reduced perceived immune functioning, a poorer perception of general health, and sleep disturbances. These effects are reflected in a significantly lower reported quality of life in subjects with more IBS and/or sleep complaints

Sensitivity to Experiencing Alcohol Hangovers: Reconsideration of the 0.11% Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Threshold for Having a Hangover

The 2010 Alcohol Hangover Research Group consensus paper defined a cutoff blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.11% as a toxicological threshold indicating that sufficient alcohol had been consumed to develop a hangover. The cutoff was based on previous research and applied mostly in studies comprising student samples. Previously, we showed that sensitivity to hangovers depends on (estimated) BAC during acute intoxication, with a greater percentage of drinkers reporting hangovers at higher BAC levels. However, a substantial number of participants also reported hangovers at comparatively lower BAC levels. This calls the suitability of the 0.11% threshold into question. Recent research has shown that subjective intoxication, i.e., the level of severity of reported drunkenness, and not BAC, is the most important determinant of hangover severity. Non-student samples often have a much lower alcohol intake compared to student samples, and overall BACs often remain below 0.11%. Despite these lower BACs, many non-student participants report having a hangover, especially when their subjective intoxication levels are high. This may be the case when alcohol consumption on the drinking occasion that results in a hangover significantly exceeds their “normal” drinking level, irrespective of whether they meet the 0.11% threshold in any of these conditions. Whereas consumers may have relative tolerance to the adverse effects at their “regular” drinking level, considerably higher alcohol intake—irrespective of the absolute amount—may consequentially result in a next-day hangover. Taken together, these findings suggest that the 0.11% threshold value as a criterion for having a hangover should be abandoned

The Association of Insomnia, Perceived Immune Functioning, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Complaints

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have a significant negative impact on quality of life, mood and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between experiencing IBS symptoms and insomnia, and perceived health status. Method: An online survey was conducted among n = 1950 Dutch university students (83.6% women). IBS was assessed with the Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire, quality of life with the WHO-5 wellbeing index, and sleep outcomes with the SLEEP-50 questionnaire. Perceived immune functioning and general health were assessed using 1-item scales. Results: IBS symptom severity was significantly associated with insomnia complaints (r = 0.32, p = 0.0001), sleep quality (r = -0.21, p = 0.0001), sleep onset latency (r = 0.11, p = 0.0001) and the number of nightly awakenings (r = 0.24, p = 0.0001). Total sleep time was not significantly associated with IBS symptom severity. Significant correlations were also found between IBS symptom severity and perceived general health (r = -0.30, p = 0.0001), perceived immune functioning (r= -0.25, p = 0.0001), and quality of life (r = -0.24, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Experiencing IBS complaints is associated with reduced perceived immune functioning, a poorer perception of general health, and sleep disturbances. These effects are reflected in a significantly lower reported quality of life in subjects with more IBS and/or sleep complaints

The Association of Insomnia, Perceived Immune Functioning, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Complaints

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have a significant negative impact on quality of life, mood and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between experiencing IBS symptoms and insomnia, and perceived health status. METHOD: An online survey was conducted among n = 1950 Dutch university students (83.6% women). IBS was assessed with the Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire, quality of life with the WHO-5 wellbeing index, and sleep outcomes with the SLEEP-50 questionnaire. Perceived immune functioning and general health were assessed using 1-item scales. RESULTS: IBS symptom severity was significantly associated with insomnia complaints (r = 0.32, p = 0.0001), sleep quality (r = -0.21, p = 0.0001), sleep onset latency (r = 0.11, p = 0.0001) and the number of nightly awakenings (r = 0.24, p = 0.0001). Total sleep time was not significantly associated with IBS symptom severity. Significant correlations were also found between IBS symptom severity and perceived general health (r = -0.30, p = 0.0001), perceived immune functioning (r= -0.25, p = 0.0001), and quality of life (r = -0.24, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing IBS complaints is associated with reduced perceived immune functioning, a poorer perception of general health, and sleep disturbances. These effects are reflected in a significantly lower reported quality of life in subjects with more IBS and/or sleep complaints

Dietary nutrient intake, alcohol metabolism, and hangover severity

Several dietary components have been shown to influence alcohol metabolism and thereby potentially affect the development of a hangover. From the literature, it is evident that dietary nicotinic acid and zinc play a pivotal role in the oxidation of ethanol into acetaldehyde. The aim of the current study was to associate dietary intake of nicotinic acid and zinc with hangover severity. To this end, data from n = 23 healthy social drinkers who participated in a naturalistic hangover study were analyzed. n = 10 of them reported to be hangover-resistant (the control group), whereas n = 13 reported to have regular hangovers (the hangover-sensitive group). Two 24 h dietary recall records were completed, one for the day of alcohol consumption and another one for an alcohol-free control day. Dietary nutrient intake was averaged and did not significantly differ between hangover-sensitive and hangover-resistant drinkers. For the hangover-sensitive drinkers, partial correlations with overall hangover severity were computed, controlling for estimated blood alcohol concentration. A bootstrapping technique was applied to account for the relatively small sample size. The results showed that dietary intake of nicotinic acid (rPB = −0.521) and zinc (rPB = −0.341) were significantly and negatively associated (p <0.002) with overall hangover severity. Dietary zinc intake was also significantly and negatively associated with severity of vomiting (rPB = −0.577, p <0.002). No significant associations with hangover severity were found for other nutrients, such as fat and fibers. In conclusion, this study suggests that social drinkers who have a higher dietary intake of nicotinic acid and zinc report significantly less severe hangovers. As hangover-resistant and hangover-sensitive drinkers had a similar dietary nutrient intake, the claim of being hangover-resistant must be based on other unknown biopsychosocial factors. These findings should be replicated in a larger sample and include more elaborate food frequency questionnaires or nutrient-specific dietary intake records for zinc and nicotinic acid, and preferably accompanied by nutrient assessments in urine and/or blood

Dietary nutrient intake, alcohol metabolism, and hangover severity

Several dietary components have been shown to influence alcohol metabolism and thereby potentially affect the development of a hangover. From the literature, it is evident that dietary nicotinic acid and zinc play a pivotal role in the oxidation of ethanol into acetaldehyde. The aim of the current study was to associate dietary intake of nicotinic acid and zinc with hangover severity. To this end, data from n = 23 healthy social drinkers who participated in a naturalistic hangover study were analyzed. n = 10 of them reported to be hangover-resistant (the control group), whereas n = 13 reported to have regular hangovers (the hangover-sensitive group). Two 24 h dietary recall records were completed, one for the day of alcohol consumption and another one for an alcohol-free control day. Dietary nutrient intake was averaged and did not significantly differ between hangover-sensitive and hangover-resistant drinkers. For the hangover-sensitive drinkers, partial correlations with overall hangover severity were computed, controlling for estimated blood alcohol concentration. A bootstrapping technique was applied to account for the relatively small sample size. The results showed that dietary intake of nicotinic acid (rPB = −0.521) and zinc (rPB = −0.341) were significantly and negatively associated (p <0.002) with overall hangover severity. Dietary zinc intake was also significantly and negatively associated with severity of vomiting (rPB = −0.577, p <0.002). No significant associations with hangover severity were found for other nutrients, such as fat and fibers. In conclusion, this study suggests that social drinkers who have a higher dietary intake of nicotinic acid and zinc report significantly less severe hangovers. As hangover-resistant and hangover-sensitive drinkers had a similar dietary nutrient intake, the claim of being hangover-resistant must be based on other unknown biopsychosocial factors. These findings should be replicated in a larger sample and include more elaborate food frequency questionnaires or nutrient-specific dietary intake records for zinc and nicotinic acid, and preferably accompanied by nutrient assessments in urine and/or blood

Proceedings of the 10th Alcohol Hangover Research Group Meeting in Utrecht, The Netherlands

The hangover is the most commonly reported negative consequence of alcohol use with several studies reporting the detrimental consequences of hangover on health, economy, and society. Research has emphasized the socioeconomic consequences of experiencing these physical and psychological symptoms in relation to absenteeism, increased risk of having accidents and injuries, and impairment of daily activities, such as job performance and driving a car. During the 10th Alcohol Hangover Research Group meeting, held on 29 April 2018, in Utrecht, The Netherlands, aspects of alcohol hangover were presented with regards to determinants, biological and cognitive consequences and potential treatments. Precursory and posterior factors influencing alcohol hangover, including biological, psychological, behavioral, metabolic aspects, cognitive functioning, and the role of the immune system in the development of alcohol hangover, were presented. In addition, potential preventive measures and treatments of alcohol hangover to reduce the adverse consequences of alcohol consumption and hangover symptoms were discussed. One study revealed that an average of 24% of social and heavy drinkers claimed not to experience hangover symptoms across time. Another study showed that food intake (either healthy or junk food) had no significant impact on next-day hangover severity. Research examining cognitive and psychomotor functioning during hangover revealed impairments in collective problem solving and response inhibition, but not attentional bias towards alcohol-related cues. The alcohol hangover state further significantly impaired driving performance, even for a short commute to work. With regard to the pathology of the alcohol hangover, research was presented that demonstrated increases in saliva cytokine concentrations confirming drinking alcohol and the hangover phase are both associated with an immune response. Other presentations discussed that scientific literature shows that there are no effective hangover treatments available yet. However, although promising, new hangover treatments are currently in development. Taken together, at the 10th Alcohol Hangover Research Group meeting, a comprehensive overview of the causes, consequences, and potential treatments of the alcohol hangover was presented

Proceedings of the 11th Alcohol Hangover Research Group Meeting, in Nadi, Fiji

The present proceedings offer a summary of the 11th meeting of the Alcohol Hangover Research Group held in April 2019 in Nadi, Fiji. The aim of the meeting was to gather the world’s leading experts in the field of alcohol hangover and share advances and ideas to help better understand the underlying pathology, consequences, and potential therapeutics. Several aspects of alcohol hangover research were discussed, including hangover-associated impairments of cognitive performance and health, novel and best research practice, the validation and use of wearable technology and online tools for off-site data collection, effects of hangover on physical strength performance, new evidence on sex differences in the occurrence and severity of alcohol hangover, and exciting future projects and directions

Proceedings of the 11th Alcohol Hangover Research Group Meeting, in Nadi, Fiji

The present proceedings offer a summary of the 11th meeting of the Alcohol Hangover Research Group held in April 2019 in Nadi, Fiji. The aim of the meeting was to gather the world’s leading experts in the field of alcohol hangover and share advances and ideas to help better understand the underlying pathology, consequences, and potential therapeutics. Several aspects of alcohol hangover research were discussed, including hangover-associated impairments of cognitive performance and health, novel and best research practice, the validation and use of wearable technology and online tools for off-site data collection, effects of hangover on physical strength performance, new evidence on sex differences in the occurrence and severity of alcohol hangover, and exciting future projects and directions