I googled this and didn’t find great info. We all know that it leads to making bad food choices and more caloric intake, but I’m asking the question from a chemical perspective.
Does drinking alcohol either during, or close to, meals affect the food in such a manner that it’s nutritional value is reduced. And what about absorption of the nutrients? Is that affected by alcohol?
Cite?
(Are you asserting that having a glass of wine with dinner leads to bad food choices?)
According to the NIH, alcohol decreases the secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas, which results in food not being broken down as well and less absorption of nutrients. So yes, the absorption of nutrients is affected by alcohol.
Also according to the NIH, long term alcohol use can damage the cells in the lining of the stomach and intestines, which also prevents nutrients from being properly absorbed.
Cite (with more info):
Thanks. I guess that’s another question to add to the list.
Thanks!
I have wondered about the same thing, more along the lines of: are nutrients adversely affected by alcohol in the stomach - many vitamins, for instance, are pretty delicate, as far as environmental factors go.
To expand on the OP, is there any significant impact on nutritional status in a person who, for example, commonly has a glass of wine with dinner?
There’s lots of data on poor nutritional status of alcoholics, but apparently little on the impact of light to moderate drinking*, which doubtfully is significant in someone eating a good balanced diet.
*a recent review suggests there are no health benefits to moderate drinking, rather an increased risk of death.
**the same journal just published another study showing a decreased risk of dementia in mild to moderate drinkers compared to non-drinkers. So, pick your poison.
A friend of mine is an alcoholic, but at the same time is very aware of nutrition. His dad (an alcoholic) died very young of a thiamine and B12 deficiency. My friend eschews red meat, takes a multivitamin daily, and overall is very health conscious when it comes to diet.
So how does avoiding red meat comport with being very health conscious? Is he trying to reduce the buildup of cholesterol? Or something else?
Gout. He claims red meat to be a trigger for his gout.
Unfortunately for him, alcohol is considered one of the biggest dietary triggers for gout. Beyond that it’s not really clear to medical science that a specific diet is all that beneficial.
Current medical consensus on gout & diet:
“Dietary guidelines for people with established gout have changed over time, and it is not completely clear which combination of foods is best. Until validated diet guidelines for gout are available, a reasonable approach is to try to establish and maintain a healthy body weight with a balanced diet, drink adequate water to avoid dehydration, and limit your intake of alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks.”
Not that your friend will necessarily listen, of course. Nor is all that really related to the thread topic so I’ll end my hijack there. ;-D