Summary Alcohol in excess is said to affect almost every organ system in the body. Alcohol increases stomach acid, contributes to hypochlorhydria and can contribute to a leaky gut. Alcohol can also cause malnutrition.

Alcohol, society's most widely used intoxicant in excess affects almost every organ system in body. [1] Alcohol increases the acid in the stomach, which can lead to gastritis or stomach and intestinal ulcers, it contributes directly to hypochlorhydria [2,3,4]. Alcohol takes the liver away from it's other functions leading to a chemical imbalance. If the liver has to spend hours detoxifying alcohol the result may be damaged liver cells or worse. It decreases the liver's ability to metabolise fats and can also lead to liver cirrhosis. The Liver foundation claims that 'even moderate social drinkers may risk liver damage.' [5]

Over use of alcohol can irritate the stomach and intestines and suppress the production of prostaglandins (hormonelike substances which modulate inflammation and stimulate tissue repair along with other physiological functions) which contributes to Leaky Gut Syndrome. [6,7,8] Alcohol can also cause malnutrition by disabling transport of some nutrients into the blood.

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[1] http://corp.aadac.com/services/developments_newsletter/dev_news_vol16_issue2.asp
[2] Bjarnason I et al, Jan 28th 1984, "The Leaky Cut of Alcoholism: Possible Route of Entry for Toxic Compounds" The Lancet.
[3] Horrobin DF,1980, "A Biochemical Basis for Alcoholism and Alcohol Induced Damage, Including the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Cirrhosis: Inferences with Essential Fatty Acid and Prostaglandin Metabolism." Medical Hypothesis 6 pp 949-42.
[4] Blakesless S, August 14th 1984 "Scientists Find Biological Causes of Alcoholism" The New York Times
[5] http://www.liverfoundation.org/db/articles/1009.
[6] Braly J, 1992, Dr Braly's Food Allergy and Nutritional Revolution, Keats Publishing.
[7] Crook W, 1984, The Yeast Connection, A Medical Breakthrough, Vintage Books.
[8] Senerchia D, 1990, Silent Menace, 20th Century Epidemic- Candidiasis, Strawberry Hill Press.