Inverse association of alcohol consumption patterns with constipation and diarrhea: a population-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Constipation and diarrhea are prevalent gastrointestinal health issues that significantly impact productivity and daily life, often leading to psychological problems and exacerbating public health burdens. Alcohol is a commonly consumed beverage worldwide, and previous studies suggest that it may exert certain effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Investigating the relationship between patterns of alcohol consumption and the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation or diarrhea can aid in the formulation of public health strategies and improve management plans for alcohol use and gastrointestinal health.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between patterns of alcohol consumption (average daily alcohol consumption and drinking levels) and the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation or diarrhea.

METHODS

The study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2005 to 2010, enrolling a total of 12,959 eligible participants aged 20 years and older. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate the association of drinking patterns with constipation and diarrhea. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were used to confirm the nonlinear relationship between these variables. Finally, subgroup analyses were conducted to identify high-risk groups and populations with specific effects.

RESULTS

In this study, a negative correlation was observed between the average daily alcohol consumption and constipation (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91-0.97; P < 0.001). Similarly, a negative correlation was found between drinking levels and constipation (P < 0.001). These results remained stable even after adjusting for all confounding factors. However, the negative correlation between both average daily alcohol consumption and drinking levels with diarrhea was only present in model 1, and the results became unstable after adjusting for all confounding factors.

CONCLUSION

Our study reveals a negative correlation between drinking patterns and both constipation and diarrhea. However, this association warrants further biological research for validation.