Moderate India Pale Ale beer consumption promotes antigenotoxic and non-mutagenic effects in ex vivo and in vivo mice models

The authors of a paper published in the Journal of Science Food Agriculture state that “discussion of the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption is ongoing. Broadly, research focusing on ethanol consumption tends to report no benefits. However, studies that distinguish between different types of alcoholic beverages, particularly beers, often reveal positive effects”.
Their work evaluated the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of moderate chronic consumption of India Pale Ale (IPA) craft beer. Sixty-four adult male Swiss mice were used and divided into control and treatment groups receiving water, IPA beer with 55.23 g of ethanol per litre of beer, aqueous solution with 55.23 g of ethanol per litre, and hop infusion ad libitum for 30 days. After this period, the animals were genetically evaluated with a comet assay. For the ex vivo comet assay, blood was collected and exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). For the in vivo assay, the alkylating agent cyclophosphamide (CP) was administered to the groups after blood collection and sacrificed after 24 h. Brain, liver, and heart tissues were analysed. Bone marrow was collected and submitted to the micronucleus test.
The groups treated with IPA beer, ethanol, and hops did not show genotoxic and mutagenic action in the blood, brain, heart, or liver. The antigenotoxic action of IPA beer and hops was observed in both in vivo and ex vivo models, showing a similar reduction in DNA damage caused by CP. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the formation of micronuclei by CP.
It was concluded that the moderate chronic consumption of IPA beer and hops infusion showed antigenotoxic effects in mice but no antimutagenic action.
Source: de Cordova Kindermann, S., Caon, G., Boeck, C.R., de Oliveira Bauer, C., Dos Santos da Silva, N., Possamai, O.L., Longaretti, L.M., Magenis, M.L., Damiani, A.P., de Oliveira Monteiro, I., de Andrade, V.M. (2024) Moderate India Pale Ale beer consumption promotes antigenotoxic and non-mutagenic effects in ex vivo and in vivo mice models. J Sci Food Agric, 104(14):8991-9000. doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.13726.