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How Can Drinking Alcohol Affect Ulcerative Colitis?
More research is needed to know exactly how alcohol interacts with UC, says Jill Gaidos, MD, a gastroenterologist at Yale Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.
But what is known is that alcohol can damage the intestinal lining and inhibit the immune system from functioning well. It can also disrupt the balance of good bacteria in your gut, says David Gardinier, RD, a registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic Center for Human Nutrition and a member of the National Scientific Advisory Committee (NSAC) of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. “All of these shifts negatively affect ulcerative colitis.”
“[Alcohol] may worsen symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, and acid reflux,” Dr. Gardinier adds. And drinking consistently over a long period can cause bacterial overgrowth in the gut, which may be connected to increased gut inflammation and can lead to flares and more intestinal damage.
The alcohol in these beverages may not be the only symptom-causing culprit. “Alcohol often contains sulfur compounds, especially beer and white wine. These compounds have been linked with disease relapses for patients with ulcerative colitis, and may contribute to the increased risk of flare-up seen with high alcohol consumption,” says Gardinier.
Added sugars in alcoholic beverages can also worsen symptoms, says Dr. Gaidos.
Not only can alcohol heighten your UC symptoms, but it may also further increase your risk of cancer. “Alcohol is classified as a class 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization due to its link to increased risk of cancer, including colorectal cancer,” says Gardinier. UC itself already increases your risk of colorectal cancer, and decreasing alcohol consumption can help mitigate that risk, he adds.
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