Alcohol use has been linked with a wide range of health problems, some of which can be life-threatening. Does this include severe gastrointestinal damage? Can alcohol cause Crohn’s disease?
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Before we look into if alcohol can cause Crohn’s disease, it can be helpful to review a few basic facts about this condition.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic medical condition involving inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is classified as an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a category that also contains ulcerative colitis.
Crohn’s disease occurs when the body’s immune system erroneously attacks healthy cells in the GI tract, which leads to permanent inflammation and swelling.
The three most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Unintentional weight loss
Other possible signs include:
- Persistent fatigue
- Joint pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Reddening of the skin and/or eyes
- Fever
As a chronic condition, Crohn’s disease is not curable. However, there are a range of options to help people manage their symptoms and minimize their distress.
Depending on the nature and severity of a person’s symptoms, treatment for Crohn’s disease may include:
- Medication
- Vitamin supplements
- Dietary changes
- Surgery
A November 2023 study in the journal Gastroenterology indicates that about 0.7% of the U.S. population (or about 2.39 million people) will be diagnosed with an IBD, with ulcerative colitis occurring a bit more often than Crohn’s disease.
Effects of Alcohol on Crohn’s Disease
A May 2021 article in the journal Gastroenterology and Hepatology reported that alcohol use among people with Crohn’s disease can have “significant ramifications for disease management.”
The potential negative effects noted in this article include:
- Patients with Crohn’s disease often report greater gastrointestinal distress after they have been drinking.
- Alcohol can cause a relapse among people whose symptoms had been in remission.
- Beer and wine manufacturers typically add sulfur and sulfate as preservatives. These substances can make the mucosal barrier, which protects the gut from pathogens, more permeable. This, in turn, can intensify existing inflammations.
- Alcohol can diminish the effectiveness of several medications that are commonly used to treat Crohn’s disease.
The authors noted that heavy drinking significantly increases the risk of relapse or more severe symptoms. They also emphasized the need for more research to understand how moderate alcohol consumption affects these risks.
For example, some evidence suggests that moderate use of red wine may reduce fecal calprotectin levels, which would indicate an easing of GI inflammation. However, the same amount of red wine use may also lead to greater gut permeability, which can cause increased inflammation.
Can Alcohol Abuse Cause Crohn’s Disease?
As addressed in the previous section, there’s considerable evidence that alcohol can exacerbate symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Researchers have not, however, been able to definitively answer the question, can alcohol cause Crohn’s disease?
- A study in the February 2021 issue of the journal Inflammatory Bowel Disease found “suggestive evidence” of a positive association between increased alcohol use and elevated risk of Crohn’s disease. However, the authors of the study wrote, further analysis found that there was no clear evidence of a cause-effect relationship between alcohol and developing Crohn’s disease.
- An October 2022 study in the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology analyzed data from more than 2,800 people that had been collected through the Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Study. This analysis found that 41.3% of IBD patients were active users of alcohol, which was similar but slightly less than the prevalence of regular alcohol use among the general public in Switzerland.
- A 2023 report from Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research stated that the use of alcohol and other drugs is marginally higher among people who are newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease than among the general public in the U.S. Alcohol and opioids were the most frequently used substances among new Crohn’s disease patients.
To summarize, researchers have found that many people with Crohn’s disease report histories of alcohol use. However, they have not established a definitive cause-effect relationship. Also, alcohol use among Crohn’s disease patients is not substantially higher – and in some cases is actually lower – than among the general public.
Can I Drink Alcohol If I Have Crohn’s Disease?
We don’t know if alcohol use is a risk factor for developing Crohn’s disease. We do have ample evidence that heavy alcohol use can lead to more severe symptoms for those who already have the disease.
Does this mean that you should avoid alcohol completely if you have been diagnosed with this condition?
Some sources advise complete abstinence for those who have Crohn’s disease, while others claim that moderate, infrequent use shouldn’t cause significant harm.
It’s important to remember that the possible impact on gastrointestinal inflammation is just one of many alcohol-related dangers that you should consider. Heavy, long-term drinking causes numerous health problems. These include heart issues, high blood pressure, liver disease, mental health concerns, and various types of cancer.
The best way to determine what level of alcohol use is safe for you is to consult with your doctor.
How to Prevent Crohn’s Disease Flares After Drinking Alcohol
The only way to ensure you won’t experience Crohn’s disease flares after drinking alcohol is not to drink alcohol. The second-best way is to limit yourself to moderate, infrequent alcohol use.
If you’re unable to constrain your drinking or stop completely, you may have developed alcohol use disorder (which is the clinical term for alcoholism). If you have become addicted, you may benefit from spending time in a residential rehab center or an outpatient treatment program.
Untreated alcohol addiction can have a devastating impact on your physical, psychological, and socioeconomic well-being. But when you get the help you need, you can begin to live a more promising and satisfying life in recovery.
Contact Phoenix Rising Recovery in Palm Springs, California
Phoenix Rising Recovery provides a full continuum of care for adults struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. Their services include detox, residential rehab, and multiple outpatient programs.
No matter your stage in recovery, our alcohol rehab center in Palm Springs, California, offers the help you need. Here, you will also find the support you deserve.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
Published: 1/31/2025