Auto-brewery Syndrome - PubMed

Full text links CiteDisplay options Display options Format AbstractPubMedPMID

Excerpt

Auto-brewery syndrome or gut fermentation syndrome is a condition in which ethanol is produced through endogenous fermentation by fungi or bacteria in the gastrointestinal system, oral cavity, or urinary system. Patients with auto-brewery syndrome present with many of the signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication while denying an intake of alcohol and often report a high-sugar, high-carbohydrate diet. The production of endogenous ethanol occurs in minute quantities as part of normal digestion, but when fermenting yeast or bacteria becomes pathogenic, extreme blood alcohol levels may result. Auto-brewery syndrome is more prevalent in patients with co-morbidities such as diabetes, obesity, and Crohn disease but can occur in otherwise healthy individuals. Several strains of fermenting yeasts and rare bacteria are identified as pathogens. While auto-brewery syndrome is rarely diagnosed, it is probably underdiagnosed. Even rarer are two cases of auto-brewery syndrome identified, one in the oral cavity and one in the urinary bladder.

Copyright © 2025, StatPearls Publishing LLC.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Kelly Painter declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Barbara Cordell declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Kristin is Sticco declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Sections

• Continuing Education Activity
• Introduction
• Etiology
• Epidemiology
• Pathophysiology
• History and Physical
• Evaluation
• Treatment / Management
• Differential Diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Complications
• Postoperative and Rehabilitation Care
• Consultations
• Deterrence and Patient Education
• Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
• Review Questions
• References

References

1. 1. Tameez Ud Din A, Alam F, Tameez-Ud-Din A, Chaudhary FMD. Auto-Brewery Syndrome: A Clinical Dilemma. Cureus. 2020 Oct 16;12(10):e10983. - PMC - PubMed
2. 1. Hafez EM, Hamad MA, Fouad M, Abdel-Lateff A. Auto-brewery syndrome: Ethanol pseudo-toxicity in diabetic and hepatic patients. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2017 May;36(5):445-450. - PubMed
3. 1. Welch BT, Coelho Prabhu N, Walkoff L, Trenkner SW. Auto-brewery Syndrome in the Setting of Long-standing Crohn's Disease: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. J Crohns Colitis. 2016 Dec;10(12):1448-1450. - PubMed
4. 1. Cordell BJ, Kanodia A, Miller GK. Case-Control Research Study of Auto-Brewery Syndrome. Glob Adv Health Med. 2019;8:2164956119837566. - PMC - PubMed
5. 1. Malik F, Wickremesinghe P, Saverimuttu J. Case report and literature review of auto-brewery syndrome: probably an underdiagnosed medical condition. BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2019;6(1):e000325. - PMC - PubMed

Show all 29 references

Publication types

• Study Guide Actions
  • Search in PubMed
  • Search in MeSH
  • Add to Search

LinkOut - more resources

• Full Text Sources

  • NCBI Bookshelf