Can Alcohol Cause Ulcerative Colitis (UC)?

If you have ulcerative colitis (UC), avoid drinking alcohol.

No, alcohol does not cause ulcerative colitis (UC). Influential studies support this claim. Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic disease that is caused by an autoimmune dysfunction in the gastrointestinal tract. It develops independently of alcohol abuse.

What Is Ulcerative Colitis?

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases defines ulcerative colitis as, “… a chronic, or long lasting, disease that causes inflammation — irritation or swelling — and sores called ulcers on the inner lining of the large intestine.”

Ulcerative colitis is part of a family of diseases that exist within the umbrella term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The other common IBD are Crohn’s disease and microscopic colitis.

Unfortunately, UC is a progressive, lifelong disease and is characterized by flares and remissions. During a flare, you would experience some or many of these symptoms:

• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Diarrhea, sometimes with blood
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Inability to defecate despite urgency (constipation)
• Rectal bleeding, or passing a small amount of blood with stool
• Rectal pain
• Urgency to defecate
• Weight loss

Ulcerative colitis happens when your immune system incorrectly starts attacking the cells of your large intestine, or colon. These cells become inflamed (swollen, red and sensitive) and send chemical systems through your bloodstream to recruit immune system cells to help fight an infection that is not there. The immune cells incorrectly attack your large intestine cells. This effect causes symptoms during flares and damage over the long-term.

Alcohol Use and Colitis

Can alcohol cause colitis if you have already been diagnosed with it? Kind of. Alcohol can cause a UC flare, but since UC is lifelong, it never goes away completely, it just goes into remission. When you drink alcohol, it travels through your gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), which is the hollow organ that starts at your mouth, includes your stomach and intestines, and ends at your colon. Alcohol is an irritant and causes damage to the cells that line the inside of your GI tract, which is especially present in long-term alcohol use.

Effects of Drinking Alcohol With UC

The irritating effects of alcohol can mimic and worsen the symptoms of UC. In general, if you have any form of IBD, you should avoid all alcohol consumption. Since alcohol can mimic a lot of the symptoms of UC, it may cause more harm for those that consume alcohol on a regular and long-term basis. 

Symptoms that alcohol can cause in the GI tract may include:

• Alters smooth muscle (intestinal) function
• Chronic diarrhea
• Damage to the lining of the intestines
• Decreased nutrient absorption
• Gastroparesis (food does not empty itself of food)

Notice how many of the above symptoms are the same as UC. Chronic use of alcohol can not only mask but can worsen the disease course of IBD.

Alcohol and Infection Risk

Alcohol has been shown to increase susceptibility to infection. The damage caused by alcohol in the GI makes your cells easier to colonize for bacteria. Unfortunately, GI infections are often very serious and sometimes fatal, and they usually require hospitalization.

Alcohol and Trigger Flares

Alcohol, caffeine, spicy food and other irritants are known to cause and prolong flares for people with UC. Sadly, UC is an incredibly difficult disease to live with, and alcohol consumption is a modifiable risk factor that can make the disease easier to live with.

If you or someone you know needs alcohol rehab treatment for abuse or addiction and they have ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disorder), The Recovery Village can help. Alcohol cessation can help control symptoms of UC and make it more manageable. To take the first step toward recovery, call The Recovery Village today.

Editor – Camille Renzoni

Cami Renzoni is a creative writer and editor for The Recovery Village. As an advocate for behavioral health, Cami is certified in mental health first aid and encourages people who face substance use disorders to ask for the help they deserve. Read more

Medically Reviewed By – Dr. Conor Sheehy, PharmD, BCPS, CACP

Dr. Sheehy completed his BS in Molecular Biology at the University of Idaho and went on to complete his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of Washington in Seattle. Read more