How Alcohol Affects Eosinophilic Esophagitis
As mentioned, drinking alcohol may not cause noticeable symptoms for everyone with EoE, but some may find that it worsens their symptoms. “We know that alcohol can cause changes in the lining of the esophagus and that people with eosinophilic esophagitis have similar changes,” says Dr. Koral.
Research suggests that alcohol may affect EoE in several ways.
Alcohol Increases Inflammation
Alcohol causes inflammation throughout the body, including the esophagus.
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“Since one of the fundamental symptoms of EoE is inflammation of the esophagus, it is practical to assume that alcohol can cause even further inflammation and worsen the symptoms of the condition,” says Destini Moody, RD, a registered dietitian in private practice in Los Angeles.
Alcohol May Cause Reflux and Damage Tissue in the Esophagus
As alcohol travels through your esophagus, it can injure tissue in the esophagus.
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It also relaxes the lower esophagus, which can allow stomach acid to splash back up into it, says Ekta Gupta, MBBS, a gastroenterologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
“This can act as an irritant for the esophageal lining and cause symptoms of chest pain or worsening of trouble swallowing, which is also a symptom of EoE,” says Dr. Gupta.
Alcohol May Lead to an Imbalance of Bacteria in the Esophagus
You may have heard of the gut microbiome — the population of healthy bacteria in your intestines. But did you know your esophagus houses its own collection of helpful microbes? Alcohol may alter these microbial populations. In one study of 1,044 people, those who drank alcohol had fewer healthy bacteria in their esophagus than those who didn’t drink — and the more they drank, the worse their microbiome balance became.
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Alcohol May Slow the Movement of Food Through the Digestive System
When you eat, your esophagus ramps up peristalsis, muscle movements that push food through the esophagus to your stomach. But alcohol can impair these movements, causing problems swallowing and chest discomfort from food sitting in your esophagus longer than normal.
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