Review uncovers mechanisms of endogenous alcohol fermentation driven by gut microbiota disruption, highlighting diagnostic carbohydrate challenges and targeted antifungal treatments.
Syndrome of intestinal fermentation, also known as auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), is an extremely uncommon condition. The endogenous generation of alcohol is what defines it. Alcohol intoxication symptoms, including a stumbling stride, slurred speech, gastrointestinal trouble, and confusion, are usually present. Before making an ABS diagnosis, additional etiologies must be ruled out due to the vague symptoms. Following a glucose challenge test, elevated blood or breath ethanol levels serve as the confirming test for this syndrome. Antifungal medication is part of the therapy, as is avoiding a diet high in carbohydrates. In this study, we provide an overview of the pathogenesis and microbiota changes leading to the manifestation of ABS.
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Singh et al. (2026) studied this question.
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