Here’s What Alcohol Does to the Gut

IT AIN’T GOOD –

July 22, 2024 – Even in people with healthy digestive systems, alcohol can wreak havoc. A maximum of one drink a day for women and two for men—is unlikely to cause serious problems, heavier drinking can mess with the microbiome, leading to increases in the bacteria that cause inflammation.

Increased inflammation associated with heavier drinking can also interfere with nutrient absorption. Worse, it can damage the intestinal lining and possibly cause “leaky gut.” That condition can lead to microbes, food, and toxins seeping out of the intestines, potentially causing problems elsewhere in the body.

Even among those who stick to the alcohol guidelines, some will have digestive problems, such as changes in bowel habits and worsening acid reflux, says Dr. Reezwana Chowdhury, an assistant professor of medicine and an IBD specialist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. While the occasional drink doesn’t always cause harm, “there’s a proportion [of people with IBD] who will certainly feel worse when they drink because of disease flaring,” says Dr. Jessica Philpott, a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “A lot of times a patient will say, ‘I went out for a beer with some friends and felt bad the next day.’”