# Does drinking alcohol with meals reduce their nutritional value? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 4, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140 "2023-04-04T16:52:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/1 "2023-04-04T16:52:08Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/2 "2023-04-04T17:25:35Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > . We all know that it leads to making bad food choices Cite? (Are you asserting that having a glass of wine with dinner leads to bad food choices?) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/3 "2023-04-04T17:33:09Z")
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): [https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa22.htm](https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa22.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/4 "2023-04-04T17:49:43Z")
Thanks. I guess that’s another question to add to the list. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/5 "2023-04-04T17:57:55Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/6 "2023-04-05T12:03:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/7 "2023-04-05T14:02:34Z")
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](https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/mar/31/no-moderate-drinking-isnt-good-for-your-health/) 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. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/8 "2023-04-05T14:37:35Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There’s lots of data on poor nutritional status of alcoholics, 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. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/9 "2023-04-05T19:46:08Z")
So how does avoiding red meat comport with being very health conscious? Is he trying to reduce the buildup of cholesterol? Or something else? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/10 "2023-04-05T19:55:45Z")
Gout. He claims red meat to be a trigger for his gout. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-drinking-alcohol-with-meals-reduce-their-nutritional-value/982140/11 "2023-04-05T21:50:41Z")
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