IL6 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Some studies indicate alcohol as a protective factor to ALS [37, 38], while others suggest that chronic alcohol consumption promotes glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and induces changes in the intestinal microbiota, promoting the release of bacteria into the bloodstream and consequent production of inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), and oxidative mediators, which can break the blood-brain barrier and cause brain damage [39, 40].