Anemia & Alcohol: Can Alcohol Cause Anemia?

Alcohol’s Effect on the Liver

Although bone marrow is primarily responsible for blood production, the liver produces most coagulation factors necessary for proper blood clotting. Alcohol is broken down through the liver and impacts the organ’s ability to metabolize other substances. Excessive drinking leads to a more significant number of fat deposits in healthy liver tissue. These deposits promote inflammation, which alters the chemical process necessary to break down scar tissue in the liver over time. Scar tissue then replaces healthy liver cells in a condition known as cirrhosis. A cirrhotic liver cannot produce clotting factors efficiently. Internal bleeding may result, particularly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Alcohol’s Effect on the Gastrointestinal System

The GI system breaks down food and extracts vital nutrients in digestion. Alcohol use inhibits proper nutritional absorption and promotes bleeding along the GI tract.

Malnutrition

As previously mentioned, alcohol impairs your body’s ability to take specific essential vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. Drinking not only produces red blood cells that are too large to function as the result of folate and B12 deficiency, but alcoholic fatty liver disease also prevents the necessary intestinal absorption and liver uptake of these vitamins.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Apart from an overall increased risk of bleeding due to a lack of clotting factors produced by the liver, individuals with AUD are at an exceptionally high risk of GI bleeding. Alcohol stimulates stomach acid production and reduces the protective gastric mucus layer, making stomach tissue susceptible to gastritis, erosions, and ulcerations. Such conditions may ultimately reach the blood vessels of the stomach, causing them to rupture and bleed. Chronic GI bleeding over time will lead to iron deficiency and associated anemia.

Symptoms of Alcohol-Induced Anemia

Whether anemia is due to improper red blood cell formation, nutrient deficiencies, or long-term bleeding, anemia has multiple physical and mental effects. Depending on the nature of your alcohol use and how it has impacted your body, the impacts may be short-term or chronic.

Common Symptoms of Anemia Include:

• Pale skin and mucosa (inner eyelids, mouth, inner lip).
• Weakness and fatigue.
• Dizziness.
• Brittle hair and nails.
• Cold extremities.
• Shortness of breath after minimal exertion.
• Chest pain.
• Heart palpitations.
• Headache.
• Black or tarry bowel movements (if anemia due to GI bleeding).

Is Anemia From Alcohol Misuse Preventable or Reversible?

Alcohol-induced anemia is preventable and reversible. Recovery speed depends on your commitment to abstinence and the nature of the anemia. Most anemias caused by bone marrow suppression or nutrient deficiencies will resolve within two weeks. In the case of a GI bleed, you may require surgery to repair torn vessels.

Prevention is the best course of action for alcohol-induced anemia. If you have a history of blood disorders, liver dysfunction, or GI disease, it is best to abstain from alcohol entirely. People without these health conditions may drink up to the recommended amount of fewer than two drinks per day for men or one drink per day for women. When consuming alcohol, you should also avoid concurrent use of blood thinners, NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen or aspirin), and cigarettes to prevent bleeding. Conditions such as GERD, gastritis, stomach ulcers, hepatitis, and blood disorders should be treated by your healthcare provider to avoid disease-related anemia.