Dec 29, 2014 07:17 PM EST By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

New research suggests that binge drinking disrupts the immune system of young, healthy adults.

Researchers from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine found that in addition to increasing the risk of traumatic injuries, such as falls, burns, gunshot wounds and car accidents, binge drinking impairs the body's ability to recover from such injuries.

Previous studies have found that binge drinking delays wound healing, increases blood loss and makes patients more likely to die from traumatic injuries.

Elizabeth Kovacs, co-author of the study, said that although drinkers generally understand how binge drinking alters behavior "there is less awareness of alcohol's harmful effects in other areas, such as the immune system."

For the study, researchers collected data from eight women and seven men with a median age of 27. Each volunteer drank enough shots of vodka -- generally four or five -- to meet the definition of binge drinking. (A 1.5 oz. shot of vodka is the alcohol equivalent of a five-ounce glass of wine or 12-ounce can of beer.)

Dr. Majid Afshar, lead author of the study, and colleagues took blood samples at 20 minutes, two hours and five hours after peak intoxication because these are times when intoxicated patients typically arrive at trauma centers for treatment of alcohol-related injuries.

They found that 20 minutes after reaching peak intoxication, their immune systems revved up. But when measured again, at two hours and five hours after peak intoxication, their immune systems had become less active than when sober.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as drinking enough to reach or exceed a blood alcohol content of .08, the legal limit for driving. This typically occurs after four drinks for women or five drinks for men, consumed in two hours.

One in six U.S. adults binge drinks about four times a month, and binge drinking is more common in young adults aged 18 to 34, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The findings are detailed in Alcohol, an international, peer-reviewed journal.

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