Alcohol Absorption Nearly Doubles After Bariatric Surgery, Study Finds
Research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and St. Olavs Hospital shows that bariatric surgeries—specifically gastric bypass and gastric sleeve—dramatically increase how the body absorbs alcohol, significantly raising the risk of alcohol-related problems.
Key Findings
Alcohol uptake nearly doubles after both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries.
- Faster peak: Patients reach peak blood alcohol concentration in half the time compared to before surgery.
- Lifelong effect: These changes are likely permanent.
- Higher risk: Gastric bypass patients face a 69% higher risk of being diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder compared to gastric sleeve patients.
- Worse outcomes: Bariatric patients with alcohol-related diagnoses have higher mortality rates and greater use of specialist health services.
Background
The body’s ability to break down alcohol in the stomach is reduced after surgery. Alcohol passes more quickly into the small intestine, where absorption is rapid.
Recommendations
- Patients should be informed about the increased risk and the underlying mechanisms.
- Individual assessment of substance abuse risk factors is recommended before choosing a surgery type.
- Effective anti-obesity drugs may be an alternative for high-risk patients.