How Does Alcohol Affect The Gut?

In moderation, alcohol can be an enjoyable addition to a social occasion or a nice meal. However, more and more we are seeing the effects of excess alcohol consumption on people’s physical, mental and specifically, their gut health. The Covid pandemic has led to an increase in alcohol consumption, particularly in drinking in the home, which may be particularly problematic as home measures are often a lot more generous than standard measures.

As a result, people may be drinking far more standard drinks of alcohol per week than they realise. This is particularly important for women as the female liver is 30% smaller than the male liver and as alcohol is metabolised (broken down) in the liver, women are less efficient at metabolising it and more sensitive to its effects.

From the gut health perspective, alcohol can affect every part of your digestive system. Here are some of the topline effects that alcohol can have on your digestive system:

Reduced health of the gums and teeth with an increased risk of cavities and erosion of the enamel It can cause heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) It can cause gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) and gastric and duodenal ulcers It can damage the liver leading to a condition known as cirrhosis, where the liver is irreversibly damaged and does not work properly anymore It can damage the pancreas gland, which is vital for production of insulin and some important digestive enzymes It can lead to a thing called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). This can lead to unpleasant symptoms of bloating, abdominal cramps, excessive wind/gas and diarrhoea Alcohol can have a significant negative effect on the healthy bacteria in our colon, the so-called gut microbiome. We have over 50 trillion bacteria making up the gut microbiome, and chronic alcohol intake reduces the variety and number of different species of bacteria in our gut. This change is called dysbiosis and is detrimental to gut and overall health Alcohol is high in calories and this can contribute to weight gain, particularly weight gain around the abdomen.

How does alcohol affect your gut health?

How does alcohol damage the stomach? – The stomach is the first organ to have long contact with alcohol. The stomach’s primary job is to store and mix food and drink that has been consumed.15 One-off and regular drinking can interfere with the functions of the stomach in a number of ways.16

Alcohol can affect stomach acid production. This can reduce the stomach’s ability to destroy bacteria that enter the stomach, which can allow potentially harmful bacteria to enter the upper small intestine.17 Mucous cells in the stomach lining protect the stomach wall from being damaged from the acid and digestive enzymes.18 A single heavy episode of drinking can damage the mucous cells in the stomach, and induce inflammation and lesions.19 High alcohol content beverages (more than 15% alcohol volume) can delay stomach emptying, which can result in bacterial degradation of the food, and cause abdominal discomfort.20

What are 3 effects alcohol has on the digestive system?

Medical Consequences – Alcohol-induced digestive disorders and mucosal damage in the GI tract can cause a variety of medical problems. These include a loss of appetite and a multitude of abdominal complaints, such as nausea, vomiting, feelings of fullness, flatulence, and abdominal pain.

Diseases of the liver and pancreas may contribute to and aggravate these complaints. Thus, about 50 percent of alcoholics with an initial stage of liver damage (i.e., fatty liver) and 30 to 80 percent of patients with an advanced stage of alcohol-induced liver injury (i.e., alcoholic hepatitis) report some symptoms of abdominal discomfort ( Bode and Bode 1992 ).

These abdominal complaints can lead to reduced food intake, thereby causing the weight loss and malnutrition commonly observed in alcoholics. In addition to causing abdominal complaints, alcohol plays a role in the development of cancers of the GI tract.

1. It is likely, however, that alcohol does not cause GI-tract cancers by itself but acts in concert with other cancer-inducing agents (i.e., as a cocarcinogen) (for reviews, see Seitz and Simanowski 1988 ; Garro and Lieber 1990 ).
2. Alcohol abuse, like smoking, is associated with the development of cancers of the tongue, larynx (i.e., the organ of voice), and pharynx; both alcohol consumption and smoking independently increase the risk for these tumors ( Bode 1980 ).

Epidemiological studies also strongly indicate that chronic alcohol consumption, especially of distilled spirits, markedly contributes to the development of esophageal cancer ( Bode 1980 ; Wienbeck and Berges 1985 ). Thus, after adjusting for smoking habits, heavy beer drinkers have a 10 times greater risk and heavy whisky drinkers a 25 times greater risk of developing esophageal cancer, compared with people who consume less than 30 g of alcohol (i.e., about 2 standard drinks) daily.

• The differences between beer and whisky drinkers remain even if they consume the same amount of pure alcohol.
• In drinkers who also smoke 20 cigarettes or more daily, the risk of esophageal cancer increases about 45-fold ( Seitz and Simanowski 1988 ).
• Heavy alcohol consumption also is associated with the development of tumors in the colon and rectum.

However, the relative risk of cancer is higher for rectal cancer than for colon cancer. Moreover, the increased risk of rectal cancer appears to result mainly from heavy beer consumption, whereas distilled spirits appear to have no effect.

How do I protect my gut when drinking alcohol?

Food and water – Having a meal or snack before you drink may help slow the rate your body absorbs the alcohol, so if you do choose to drink, it’s a good idea to eat beforehand.8,9 Drinking water (or soft drinks) can also help, as long as it means you drink less alcohol.

Does alcohol hurt gut bacteria?

Drinking alcohol can have an impact on the probiotic bacteria in your gut microbiome. Heavy alcohol use over time can kill off many important gut bacteria. While taking a probiotic while drinking may not cause a bad interaction, such as when someone takes medications and drinks, it is still counterproductive.

You’ve probably heard it before “be careful taking this medication with alcohol” or “don’t drink when you’re on this medication.” Drinking alcohol when taking medications can have detrimental side effects, so it’s a natural question to ask. However, people don’t usually ask this question when taking supplements.

For the most part, there’s a good reason. Many dietary supplements deliver the same compounds to the body that you would get through food which usually isn’t impacted by alcohol use. When it comes to probiotics, the story is a little different. Probiotics are living bacteria that help perform essential tasks in your gut,

How long does it take your gut to heal from alcohol?

In April 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that all forms of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine (Zantac) be removed from the U.S. market. They made this recommendation because unacceptable levels of NDMA, a probable carcinogen (or cancer-causing chemical), were present in some ranitidine products.

People taking prescription ranitidine should talk with their doctor about safe alternative options before stopping the drug. People taking OTC ranitidine should stop taking the drug and talk with their healthcare provider about alternative options. Instead of taking unused ranitidine products to a drug take-back site, a person should dispose of them according to the product’s instructions or by following the FDA’s guidance,

Drinking alcohol may lead to inflammation and irritation in the stomach that results in bloating. If this is due to gastritis, it may improve after a few days. However, chronic gastritis can last for years. Alcohol can also cause weight gain, giving the appearance of bloating.

1. Whether weight gain or an inflammatory condition such as gastritis is at the root of bloating after drinking alcohol, lifestyle changes, medications — or both — can help.
2. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months for the appearance of bloating to reduce, depending on the cause and severity.

In this article, we describe how alcohol can cause a bloated appearance in the stomach. We also look into how long alcohol-related bloating lasts and how to get rid of it.

What happens to your gut when you stop drinking?

Can alcohol withdrawal cause stomach cramps? – Yes. Alcohol withdrawal can cause stomach cramps. This is because the stomach produces an acid that causes gastritis when you stop drinking. This inflammation of your stomach lining triggers symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea,, cramps and even bleeding.

Stomach cramps. Excessive weakness. Less endurance. Impaired recovery. Hallucinations.

Should I take probiotics if I drink alcohol?

Probiotics are not medications and there are no specific contraindications which suggest that you can’t take probiotics with alcohol. However, alcohol may harm delicate live cultures and populations of gut bacteria, so it is worth considering this if you’re taking probiotic supplements.

Do probiotics help with alcohol?

How do probiotics help hangovers? – There has been some research in the past few years looking at the effects of probiotic bacteria on the symptoms resulting from excess alcohol intake. Results do seem to suggest that yes, probiotics are good for hangovers! A Russian study 1 showed that study participants that drank alcohol regularly had lower levels of three types of gut bacteria, namely: Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli and Enterococci.

• Within 5 days of supplementing probiotics, levels of both Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli had significantly increased.
• However, more interestingly, the study participants liver enzymes which had previously been elevated, had decreased to within normal levels.
• Elevated liver enzymes in a drinker, are usually a sign of liver inflammation from alcohol exposure.

The fact that these enzymes dropped following probiotic supplementation, means that there was some sort of improvement in liver function as a direct result of the probiotic treatment. Probiotic bacteria were also featured in a 2022 study 3 with 24 participants.

• Results indicated that the proprietary blend of live cultures in the supplement helped to reduce alcohol absorption from the intestines, which subsequently reduced the absorption of alcohol into the body systems.
• This was a very small study and further research needs to be done but so far the limited research does seem to suggests that probiotics may have a part to play in hangover prevention.

Bifidobacteria are believed to help break down and detoxify acetaldehyde 4, By preventing the accumulation of this toxic by-product of alcohol metabolism, Bifidobacteria are thought to help prevent symptoms of a hangover. Naturopaths often recommend taking Bifidobacterium bifidus before going to bed, and again the following morning to reduce the severity of a hangover.

Do probiotics help when drinking alcohol?

Even though alcohol and probiotics may seem like an unlikely pairing, probiotic supplements can help protect the gut from alcohol-induced damage and reduce negative symptoms. However, if consumed in excess, alcohol can also inhibit the growth of probiotics by killing them.

Probiotics are living bacteria that line the gut and support digestive health. They are beneficial in several ways, including reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, and aiding digestion. Additionally, studies show that probiotics balance friendly bacteria in the digestive system. Taking a probiotic supplement can help offset some of the damage caused by alcohol consumption.

It can also help reduce symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Probiotics may even improve liver function in heavy drinkers. With this in mind, the overarching questions remain: How does drinking alcohol adversely affect the good bacteria in the gut? Can you take probiotic supplements with an alcoholic beverage? Does alcohol kill probiotics? Are there probiotics in bee r ? In this blog post, we’ll explore the relationship between alcohol and probiotics and provide some tips on how to choose the right probiotic products.

Does alcohol increase gut inflammation?

Alcohol’s Effect on Immunity and Inflammation – Alcohol can induce intestinal inflammation through a cascade of mechanisms that subsequently lead to inflammation and organ dysfunction throughout the body, in particular in the liver and brain. One mechanism is by increasing bacterial loads and the permeability of the intestinal wall (see figure ) allowing bacteria to leak through, leading to local and systemic effects by affecting mucosal immunity and via endotoxin release, respectively.

1. Alcohol also affects mucosal immunity by suppressing one of the intestine’s main lines of defense against bacteria, Paneth cells that secrete antibacterial compounds.
2. Suppressed Paneth cells secrete fewer antibacterial compounds, which can allow additional intestinal bacteria overgrowth and allow their byproducts (i.e., endotoxins) entrance through the intestinal barrier.

The bacteria, via endotoxins, trigger an inflammatory response by the intestine’s immune system, causing a release of proinflammatory cytokines. The endotoxins and cytokines can then enter the liver, directly interacting with hepatocytes and with liver immune cells, causing local cytokine release that leads to fibrosis and causes additional inflammation.

Can alcohol clean your gut?

Wine has long been known for its disinfecting and cleansing properties. Alcohol is a well-known disinfectant and some have speculated it may be useful for treating gut infections. Wine has long been known for its disinfecting and cleansing properties. According to historical records, in the third century AD Roman generals recommended wine to their soldiers to help prevent dysentery.

READ MORE: * The vast health benefits of a month off alcohol * Why your body loves a break from booze * What alcohol does to your body after 40 * Sad cheers for drinkers as research finds alcohol interferes with heart’s rhythm CAN ALCOHOL KILL GERMS IN OUR GUTS AND MOUTHS? Wine was examined as part of a 1988 study that tested a number of common beverages (carbonated drinks, wine, beer, skim milk and water) for their antibacterial effect.

The beverages were inoculated with infectious gut bacteria such as salmonella, shigella and E.coli. After two days it was found the organisms fared worst in red wine. Beer and carbonated drinks had an effect but were not as effective as wine. A number of years later a laboratory study was carried out to work out what in wine was causing the antibacterial effect.

The researchers tested red wine on salmonella and compared it to a solution containing the same alcohol concentration and pH level (acidic). Red wine was seen to possess intense antibacterial activity, which was greater than the solution with the same concentration of alcohol and pH. Even though a large proportion of the antibacterial effect of red wine against salmonella was found to be due to its acid pH and alcohol concentration, these factors only partly explained the observed effects.

The concentration of alcohol is certainly important for the effect on bugs (microbes). For alcohol hand rubs a high alcohol concentration in the range of 60-80% is considered optimal for antimicrobial activity. A laboratory study looked at the penetration of alcohol into groups of microorganisms in the mouth and its effect on killing microbes.

Alcohol concentrations lower than 40% were found to be significantly weaker in affecting bacterial growth. Alcohol with a 10% concentration had almost no effect. The exposure time of alcohol was also important. When 40% alcohol (the same concentration as vodka) was used the effect on inhibiting the growth of these microorganisms was much greater when applied over 15 minutes compared to six minutes.

It was determined that 40% alcohol had some ability to kill oral bacteria with an exposure time of at least one minute. CAN ALCOHOL DAMAGE THE STOMACH? In a study involving 47 healthy human volunteers, different alcohol concentrations (4%, 10%, 40%) or saline, as a control, were directly sprayed on the lower part of the stomach during a gastroscopy (where a camera is inserted down into the stomach through the mouth).

The greater the concentration of alcohol, the more damage was observed in the stomach. Erosions accompanied by blood were the typical damage observed in the stomach. No damage was observed in the small bowel. Stomach injury caused by higher alcohol concentrations (greater than 10%) took more than 24 hours to heal.

So in theory a high enough concentration of alcohol swallowed (or kept in the mouth for at least a minute) would kill a large number of gut and oral bacteria, but it would very likely do some damage to the stomach lining. Chronic use of alcohol can also lead to an overgrowth of bacteria in the small bowel.

• This has been thought to be linked to gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, which are frequently noted in alcoholic patients.
• SO WHAT’S THE VERDICT? Alcohol consumption can lead to some immediate damage to the gut, with greater damage seen at higher concentrations.
• In theory a high enough alcohol concentration with sufficient exposure to gut or oral tissue could kill bacteria but will in all likelihood also damage the gut lining.

It’s not advised alcohol be used as a regular disinfectant to treat tummy bugs or throat infections. Vincent Ho is a Lecturer and clinical academic gastroenterologist at Western Sydney University. This article originally appeared on The Conversation,

Does alcohol cause leaky gut?

2. Diarrhea. – Everyone has a mix of “good” and “bad” bacteria in their gut. Drinking too much alcohol disrupts the normal balance, increasing the bacteria that cause inflammation and irritation in the gut while decreasing the bacteria that aid in digestion.

Excessive bad bacteria can lead to a “leaky gut,” in which gaps in the intestinal wall allow bacteria and other toxins into the bloodstream. “To explain leaky gut, I tell patients to think of their intestinal lining as a brick wall. When there are cracks in the mortar between the bricks, water can leak through.

In leaky gut, alcohol causes cracks in the ‘mortar’ of the intestinal wall.” Excessive alcohol consumption leads to leaky gut, decreases gut absorption and increases the production of bile in the liver, all of which can lead to diarrhea, Dr. Haque says.

What happens when you don’t drink alcohol for 2 weeks?

Week two of giving up alcohol – After two weeks off alcohol, you will continue to reap the benefits of better sleep and hydration. As alcohol is an irritant to the stomach lining, after a fortnight you will also see a reduction in symptoms such as reflux where the stomach acid burns your throat.

Does alcohol increase gut inflammation?

Alcohol’s Effect on Immunity and Inflammation – Alcohol can induce intestinal inflammation through a cascade of mechanisms that subsequently lead to inflammation and organ dysfunction throughout the body, in particular in the liver and brain. One mechanism is by increasing bacterial loads and the permeability of the intestinal wall (see figure ) allowing bacteria to leak through, leading to local and systemic effects by affecting mucosal immunity and via endotoxin release, respectively.

• Alcohol also affects mucosal immunity by suppressing one of the intestine’s main lines of defense against bacteria, Paneth cells that secrete antibacterial compounds.
• Suppressed Paneth cells secrete fewer antibacterial compounds, which can allow additional intestinal bacteria overgrowth and allow their byproducts (i.e., endotoxins) entrance through the intestinal barrier.

The bacteria, via endotoxins, trigger an inflammatory response by the intestine’s immune system, causing a release of proinflammatory cytokines. The endotoxins and cytokines can then enter the liver, directly interacting with hepatocytes and with liver immune cells, causing local cytokine release that leads to fibrosis and causes additional inflammation.

Does alcohol destroy nutrients in your stomach?

Alcohol and Nutrition – Alcohol Alert No.22- 1993 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism No.22 PH 346 October 1993 Alcohol and Nutrition Nutrition is a process that serves two purposes: to provide energy and to maintain body structure and function.

Food supplies energy and provides the building blocks needed to replace worn or damaged cells and the nutritional components needed for body function. Alcoholics often eat poorly, limiting their supply of essential nutrients and affecting both energy supply and structure maintenance. Furthermore, alcohol interferes with the nutritional process by affecting digestion, storage, utilization, and excretion of nutrients (1).

Impairment of Nutrient Digestion and Utilization Once ingested, food must be digested (broken down into small components) so it is available for energy and maintenance of body structure and function. Digestion begins in the mouth and continues in the stomach and intestines, with help from the pancreas.

1. The nutrients from digested food are absorbed from the intestines into the blood and carried to the liver.
2. The liver prepares nutrients either for immediate use or for storage and future use.
3. Alcohol inhibits the breakdown of nutrients into usable molecules by decreasing secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas (2).

Alcohol impairs nutrient absorption by damaging the cells lining the stomach and intestines and disabling transport of some nutrients into the blood (3). In addition, nutritional deficiencies themselves may lead to further absorption problems. For example, folate deficiency alters the cells lining the small intestine, which in turn impairs absorption of water and nutrients including glucose, sodium, and additional folate (3).

Even if nutrients are digested and absorbed, alcohol can prevent them from being fully utilized by altering their transport, storage, and excretion (4). Decreased liver stores of vitamins such as vitamin A (5), and increased excretion of nutrients such as fat, indicate impaired utilization of nutrients by alcoholics (3).

Alcohol and Energy Supply The three basic nutritional components found in food-carbohydrates, proteins, and fats-are used as energy after being converted to simpler products. Some alcoholics ingest as much as 50 percent of their total daily calories from alcohol, often neglecting important foods (3,6).

• Even when food intake is adequate, alcohol can impair the mechanisms by which the body controls blood glucose levels, resulting in either increased or decreased blood glucose (glucose is the body’s principal sugar) (7).
• In nondiabetic alcoholics, increased blood sugar, or hyperglycemia-caused by impaired insulin secretion-is usually temporary and without consequence.

Decreased blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can cause serious injury even if this condition is short lived. Hypoglycemia can occur when a fasting or malnourished person consumes alcohol. When there is no food to supply energy, stored sugar is depleted, and the products of alcohol metabolism inhibit the formation of glucose from other compounds such as amino acids (7).

As a result, alcohol causes the brain and other body tissue to be deprived of glucose needed for energy and function. Although alcohol is an energy source, how the body processes and uses the energy from alcohol is more complex than can be explained by a simple calorie conversion value (8). For example, alcohol provides an average of 20 percent of the calories in the diet of the upper third of drinking Americans, and we might expect many drinkers who consume such amounts to be obese.

Instead, national data indicate that, despite higher caloric intake, drinkers are no more obese than nondrinkers (9,10). Also, wh en alcohol is substituted for carbohydrates, calorie for calorie, subjects tend to lose weight, indicating that they derive less energy from alcohol than from food (summarized in 8).

• The mechanisms accounting for the apparent inefficiency in converting alcohol to energy are complex and incompletely understood (11), but several mechanisms have been proposed.
• For example, chronic drinking triggers an inefficient system of alcohol metabolism, the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system (MEOS) (1).

Much of the energy from MEOS-driven alcohol metabolism is lost as heat rather than used to supply the body with energy. Alcohol and the Maintenance of Cell Structure and Function Structure Because cells are made mostly of protein, an adequate protein diet is important for maintaining cell structure, especially if cells are being damaged.

• Research indicates that alcohol affects protein nutrition by causing impaired digestion of proteins to amino acids, impaired processing of amino acids by the small intestine and liver, impaired synthesis of proteins from amino acids, and impaired protein secretion by the liver (3).
• Function Nutrients are essential for proper body function; proteins, vitamins, and minerals provide the tools that the body needs to perform properly.

Alcohol can disrupt body function by causing nutrient deficiencies and by usurping the machinery needed to metabolize nutrients. Vitamins. Vitamins are essential to maintaining growth and normal metabolism because they regulate many physiological processes.

1. Chronic heavy drinking is associated with deficiencies in many vitamins because of decreased food ingestion and, in some cases, impaired absorption, metabolism, and utilization (1,12).
2. For example, alcohol inhibits fat absorption and thereby impairs absorption of the vitamins A, E, and D that are normally absorbed along with dietary fats (12,13).

Vitamin A deficiency can be associated with night blindness, and vitamin D deficiency is associated with softening of the bones (6). Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins, also deficient in some alcoholics, are all involved in wound healing and cell maintenance (14).

In particular, because vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting, deficiencies of that vitamin can cause delayed clotting and result in excess bleeding. Deficiencies of other vitamins involved in brain function can cause severe neurological damage. Minerals. Deficiencies of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc are common in alcoholics, although alcohol itself does not seem to affect the absorption of these minerals (15).

Rather, deficiencies seem to occur secondary to other alcohol-related problems: decreased calcium absorption due to fat malabsorption; magnesium deficiency due to decreased intake, increased urinary excretion, vomiting, and diarrhea (16); iron deficiency related to gastrointestinal bleeding (3,15); and zinc malabsorption or losses related to other nutrient deficiencies (17).

• Mineral deficiencies can cause a variety of medical consequences from calcium-related bone disease to zinc-related night blindness and skin lesions.
• Alcohol, Malnutrition, and Medical Complications Liver Disease Although alcoholic liver damage is caused primarily by alcohol itself, poor nutrition may increase the risk of alcohol-related liver damage.

For example, nutrients normally found in the liver, such as carotenoids, which are the major sources of vitamin A, and vitamin E compounds, are known to be affected by alcohol consumption (18,19). Decreases in such nutrients may play some role in alcohol-related liver damage.

• Pancreatitis Research suggests that malnutrition may increase the risk of developing alcoholic pancreatitis (20,21), but some research performed outside the United States links pancreatitis more closely with overeating (21).
• Preliminary research suggests that alcohol’s damaging effect on the pancreas may be exacerbated by a protein-deficient diet (22).

Brain Nutritional deficiencies can have severe and permanent effects on brain function. Specifically, thiamine deficiencies, often seen in alcoholics, can cause severe neurological problems such as impaired movement and memory loss seen in Wernicke/Korsakoff syndrome (23).

1. Pregnancy Alcohol has direct toxic effects on fetal development, causing alcohol-related birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome.
2. Alcohol itself is toxic to the fetus, but accompanying nutritional deficiency can affect fetal development, perhaps compounding the risk of developmental damage (24,25).

The nutritional needs during pregnancy are 10 to 30 percent greater than normal; food intake can increase by as much as 140 percent to cover the needs of both mother and fetus (24). Not only can nutritional deficiencies of an alcoholic mother adversely affect the nutrition of the fetus, but alcohol itself can also restrict nutrition flow to the fetus (24,25).

Nutritional Status of Alcoholics Techniques for assessing nutritional status include taking body measurements such as weight, height, mass, and skin fold thickness to estimate fat reserves, and performing blood analysis to provide measurements of circulating proteins, vitamins, and minerals. These techniques tend to be imprecise, and for many nutrients, there is no clear “cut-off” point that would allow an accurate definition of deficiency (4).

As such, assessing the nutritional status of alcoholics is hindered by the limitations of the techniques. Dietary status may provide inferential information about the risk of developing nutritional deficiencies. Dietary status is assessed by taking patients’ dietary histories and evaluating the amount and types of food they are eating.

A threshold dose above which alcohol begins to have detrimental effects on nutrition is difficult to determine. In general, moderate drinkers (two drinks or less per day) seem to be at little risk for nutritional deficiencies. Various medical disorders begin to appear at greater levels. Research indicates that the majority of even the heaviest drinkers have few detectable nutritional deficiencies but that many alcoholics who are hospitalized for medical complications of alcoholism do experience severe malnutrition (1,12).

Because alcoholics tend to eat poorly-often eating less than the amounts of food necessary to provide sufficient carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins A and C, the B vitamins, and minerals such as calcium and iron (6,9,26)-a major concern is that alcohol’s effects on the digestion of food and utilization of nutrients may shift a mildly malnourished person toward severe malnutrition.

1. Alcohol and Nutrition-A Commentary by NIAAA Director Enoch Gordis, M.D.
2. The combination of an adequate diet and abstention from alcohol is the best way to treat malnourished alcoholic patients.
3. Nutritional supplements have been used to replace nutrients deficient in malnourished alcoholics in an attempt to improve their overall health.

Dosages of nutritional supplements such as vitamin A that exceed normally prescribed levels may result in overdose. Although various nutritional approaches have been touted as “cures” for alcoholism, there is little evidence to support such claims. However, renewed research attention to the nutritional aspects of alcohol leaves open the possibility that a role for nutritional therapy in alcoholism treatment may yet be defined.

References (1) Lieber, C.S. The influence of alcohol on nutritional status. Nutrition Reviews 46(7):241-254, 1988. (2) Korsten, M.A. Alcoholism and pancreatitis: Does nutrition play a role? Alcohol Health & Research World 13(3):232-237, 1989. (3) Feinman, L. Absorption and utilization of nutrients in alcoholism.

Alcohol Health & Research World 13(3):207-210, 1989. (4) Thomson, A.D., and Pratt, O.E. Interaction of nutrients and alcohol: Absorption, transport, utilization, and metabolism. In: Watson, R.R., and Watzl, B., eds. Nutrition and Alcohol, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1992.

1. Pp.75-99. (5) Sato, M.
2. And Lieber, C.S.
3. Hepatic vitamin A depletion after chronic ethanol consumption in baboons and rats.
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7. Nutrition: Medical problems of alcoholism.
8. In: Lieber, C.S., ed.
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New York: Plenum Publishing Corp., 1992. pp.515-530. (7) Patel, D.G. Effects of ethanol on carbohydrate metabolism and implications for the aging alcoholic. Alcohol Health & Research World 13(3):240-246, 1989. (8) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• The Surgeon General’s Report on Nutrition and Health, DHHS Pub. No.
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• American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42(2):289-295, 1985.

(10) Colditz, G.A. ; Giovannucci, E.; Rimm, E.B.; Stampfer, M.J.; Rosner, B.; Speizer, F.E.; Gordis, E.; and Willett, W.C. Alcohol intake in relation to diet and obesity in women and men. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 54(1):49-55, 1991. (11) World, M.J.

1. Ryle, P.R.; Pratt, O.E.; and Thomson, A.D.
2. Alcohol and body weight.
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7. 13) Leo, M.A.
8. And Lieber, C.S.
9. Alcohol and vitamin A.
10. Alcohol Health & Research World 13(3):250-254, 1989.

(14) Tortora, G.J., and Anagnostakos, N.P., eds. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology,5th ed. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1987. (15) Marsano, L., and McClain, C.J. Effects of alcohol on electrolytes and minerals. Alcohol Health & Research World 13(3):255-260, 1989.

16) Flink, E.B. Magnesium deficiency in alcoholism. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 10(6):590-594, 1986. (17) McClain, C.J. ; Antonow, D.R.; Cohen, D.A.; and Shedlofsky, S.I. Zinc metabolism in alcoholic liver disease. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 10(6):582-589, 1986. (18) Leo, M.A.

; Kim, C.-I.; Lowe, N.; and Lieber, C.S. Interaction of ethanol with *-carotene: Delayed blood clearance and enhanced hepatotoxicity. Hepatology 15(5):883-891, 1992. (19) Leo, M.A. ; Rosman, A.S.; and Lieber, C.S. Differential depletion of carotenoids and tocopherol in liver disease.

Hepatology 17(6):977-986, 1993. (20) Mezey, E. ; Kolman, C.J.; Diehl, A.M.; Mitchell, M.C.; and Herlong, H.F. Alcohol and dietary intake in the development of chronic pancreatitis and liver disease in alcoholism. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48(1):148-151, 1988. (21) Korsten, M.A. ; Pirola, R.C.; and Lieber, C.S.

Alcohol and the pancreas. In: Lieber, C.S., ed. Medical and Nutritional Complications of Alcoholism: Mechanisms in Management, New York: Plenum Publishing Corp., 1992. pp.341-358. (22) Korsten, M.A. ; Wilson, J.S.; and Lieber, C.S. Interactive effects of dietary protein and ethanol on rat pancreas: Protein synthesis and enzyme secretion.

Gastroenterology 99(1):229-236, 1990. (23) Victor, M. The effects of alcohol on the nervous system: Clinical features, pathogenesis, and treatment. In: Lieber, C.S., ed. Medical and Nutritional Complications of Alcoholism: Mechanisms in Management, New York: Plenum Publishing Corp., 1992. pp.413-457. (24) Weinberg, J.

Nutritional issues in perinatal alcohol exposure. Neurobehavioral Toxicology and Teratology 6(4):261-269, 1984. (25) Phillips, D.K.; Henderson, G.I.; and Schenker, S. Pathogenesis of fetal alcohol syndrome: Overview with emphasis on the possible role of nutrition.

Alcohol Health & Research World 13(3):219-227, 1989. (26) Hillers, V.N., and Massey, L.K. Interrelationships of moderate and high alcohol consumption with diet and health status. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 41(2):356-362, 1985. All material contained in the Alcohol Alert is in the public domain and may be used or reproduced without permission from NIAAA.

Citation of the source is appreciated. Copies of the Alcohol Alert are available free of charge from the Scientific Communications Branch, Office of Scientific Affairs, NIAAA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 16C-14, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: 301-443-3860.U.S.

Can alcohol clean your gut?

Wine has long been known for its disinfecting and cleansing properties. Alcohol is a well-known disinfectant and some have speculated it may be useful for treating gut infections. Wine has long been known for its disinfecting and cleansing properties. According to historical records, in the third century AD Roman generals recommended wine to their soldiers to help prevent dysentery.

READ MORE: * The vast health benefits of a month off alcohol * Why your body loves a break from booze * What alcohol does to your body after 40 * Sad cheers for drinkers as research finds alcohol interferes with heart’s rhythm CAN ALCOHOL KILL GERMS IN OUR GUTS AND MOUTHS? Wine was examined as part of a 1988 study that tested a number of common beverages (carbonated drinks, wine, beer, skim milk and water) for their antibacterial effect.

The beverages were inoculated with infectious gut bacteria such as salmonella, shigella and E.coli. After two days it was found the organisms fared worst in red wine. Beer and carbonated drinks had an effect but were not as effective as wine. A number of years later a laboratory study was carried out to work out what in wine was causing the antibacterial effect.

The researchers tested red wine on salmonella and compared it to a solution containing the same alcohol concentration and pH level (acidic). Red wine was seen to possess intense antibacterial activity, which was greater than the solution with the same concentration of alcohol and pH. Even though a large proportion of the antibacterial effect of red wine against salmonella was found to be due to its acid pH and alcohol concentration, these factors only partly explained the observed effects.

The concentration of alcohol is certainly important for the effect on bugs (microbes). For alcohol hand rubs a high alcohol concentration in the range of 60-80% is considered optimal for antimicrobial activity. A laboratory study looked at the penetration of alcohol into groups of microorganisms in the mouth and its effect on killing microbes.

Alcohol concentrations lower than 40% were found to be significantly weaker in affecting bacterial growth. Alcohol with a 10% concentration had almost no effect. The exposure time of alcohol was also important. When 40% alcohol (the same concentration as vodka) was used the effect on inhibiting the growth of these microorganisms was much greater when applied over 15 minutes compared to six minutes.

It was determined that 40% alcohol had some ability to kill oral bacteria with an exposure time of at least one minute. CAN ALCOHOL DAMAGE THE STOMACH? In a study involving 47 healthy human volunteers, different alcohol concentrations (4%, 10%, 40%) or saline, as a control, were directly sprayed on the lower part of the stomach during a gastroscopy (where a camera is inserted down into the stomach through the mouth).

The greater the concentration of alcohol, the more damage was observed in the stomach. Erosions accompanied by blood were the typical damage observed in the stomach. No damage was observed in the small bowel. Stomach injury caused by higher alcohol concentrations (greater than 10%) took more than 24 hours to heal.

So in theory a high enough concentration of alcohol swallowed (or kept in the mouth for at least a minute) would kill a large number of gut and oral bacteria, but it would very likely do some damage to the stomach lining. Chronic use of alcohol can also lead to an overgrowth of bacteria in the small bowel.

1. This has been thought to be linked to gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, which are frequently noted in alcoholic patients.
2. SO WHAT’S THE VERDICT? Alcohol consumption can lead to some immediate damage to the gut, with greater damage seen at higher concentrations.
3. In theory a high enough alcohol concentration with sufficient exposure to gut or oral tissue could kill bacteria but will in all likelihood also damage the gut lining.

It’s not advised alcohol be used as a regular disinfectant to treat tummy bugs or throat infections. Vincent Ho is a Lecturer and clinical academic gastroenterologist at Western Sydney University. This article originally appeared on The Conversation,