Alcohol consumption and childhood trauma impact serum immunoglobulin levels in patients with alcohol use disorder

Abstract

Background

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and childhood trauma both have detrimental effects on immune regulation. Immunoglobulins, key biomarkers of the adaptive immune system, may be selectively targeted by heavy alcohol consumption as well as childhood trauma. In this study, we investigated the relationship between alcohol drinking behavior, history of childhood trauma, and circulating levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in individuals with AUD.

Methods

Using linear regression, multiple variables, drinks per drinking day and childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) score, were evaluated in relation to immunoglobulin levels. All participants (N = 445) were treatment-seeking and admitted to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, where they underwent a battery of laboratory and psychological assessments.

Results

Analyses showed a significant positive association between alcohol consumption and IgA. Furthermore, there was a significant negative association between childhood trauma and IgG. Other significant results include a negative association between substance use disorder diagnosis (other than alcohol) and IgA, while anxiety disorder diagnosis was associated with lower IgG.

Conclusion

Heavy alcohol drinking is associated with elevated IgA levels, which may be a potential risk factor for alcohol-associated liver disease. On the other hand, childhood trauma's association with decreased IgG levels may be indicative of broader immune dysfunction. Taken together, changes in immunoglobulins may be valuable markers linking alcohol consumption and childhood trauma to immune health and disease progression.