Is Moderate Red Wine Consumption Safe in Inactive Inflammatory Bowel Disease Digestion, 08/26/2011

Swanson GR et al. – One week of moderate consumption of red wine in inactive Inflammatory Bowel Disease(IBD) was associated with a significant decrease in stool calprotectin and a significant increase in intestinal permeability. This data suggests that patients with inactive IBD who drink red wine daily may be at an increased long–term risk for disease relapse.

• To assess the effects of moderate daily alcohol consumption on intestinal permeability and inflammation, the authors recruited 21 patients: 8 with inactive ulcerative colitis (UC), 6 with inactive Crohn’s disease (CD), and 7 healthy controls.
• All participants with IBD completed a validated questionnaire on disease activity (Crohn’s disease activity index or ulcerative colitis clinical activity index), to confirm they had inactive disease.
• All subjects then underwent a baseline assessment that included a blood draw, urine collection after sugar challenge, and stool collection.

• No subjects flared during the study.
• Moderate alcohol consumption did not significantly change either clinical disease activity scores or C-reactive protein.
• In contrast to healthy subjects, daily consumption of red wine significantly (1) decreased stool calprotectin in IBD subjects from baseline (p=0.001) and (2) increased intestinal permeability as measured by urinary lactulose/mannitol excretion (marker of small bowel permeability) in CD (p=0.028) or urinary sucralose secretion (marker of large bowel permeability) in UC (p=0.012).