Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
Fri Sep 20, 2013, 09:51 AM Sep 2013

Man diagnosed with brewing beer in his stomach. (Wait! Wut!?!?)

A case study details why an unnamed 61-year-old Texas man was often drunk throughout the day, even on days when he insisted that he had not had a drink. He was eventually diagnosed with "auto-brewery syndrome," a rare disease that has only a few confirmed cases in the last 30 years.

People with the syndrome have too much yeast in their intestinal tract. When they eat carbohydrates, the yeast turns the carbohydrates into ethanol and they become intoxicated from the inside out.

"The physicians were not aware of any way that a person could be intoxicated without ingesting alcohol and therefore believed he must be a 'closet drinker.'Doctors — and even the man's wife, who is a nurse — didn't believe him for a long time when he said he wasn't drinking. His wife regularly made him take a Breathalyzer test and he would consistently register a blood alcohol level (BAL) of 0.33% to 0.4%, or 5 times the legal driving limit.

In 2010 the man was placed under strict observation for 24 hours, after which he still had a high BAL. Doctors determined his condition was likely due to medication he had because of a 2004 surgery that destroyed helpful bacteria in his gut. As a result, yeast built up.

The man was placed on a low-carb diet, given antifungal medication and recovered. The study suggest that physicians consider the possibility of the rare condition if confronted with a case of someone claiming they become drunk without drinking.
http://cir.ca/news/man-brewed-beer-in-stomach

Who knew?
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Man diagnosed with brewing beer in his stomach. (Wait! Wut!?!?) (Original Post) Are_grits_groceries Sep 2013 OP
Think of the money you could save. n/t eShirl Sep 2013 #1
Really...."Feel like some Vodka tonight...Honey, where do you keep the potatoes ??" BlueJazz Sep 2013 #2
lol! Sissyk Sep 2013 #3
EEEEWWWW! BlueJazz Sep 2013 #5
Do I need to make the obvious beer belly joke? NuclearDem Sep 2013 #4
How about that. furious Sep 2013 #6
Wonder if Dubya has this syndrome, with his "from the gut" thinking and all... Blue Owl Sep 2013 #7

Sissyk

(12,665 posts)
3. lol!
Fri Sep 20, 2013, 10:30 AM
Sep 2013

Just don't drink from any bottle he hands you. That beer or vodka may have come from his spigot.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Man diagnosed with brewin...