Alcohol and gastric acid secretion in humans: a short review

The action of ethanol and alcoholic beverages on gastric acid secretion and release of gastrin in healthy, nonalcoholic humans is reviewed. Intravenous ethanol causes a dose-dependent stimulation of gastric acid output without releasing gastrin. The action of intragastric instillation of pure ethanol on gastric acid secretion is related to its concentration: concentrations of 1.4% and 4% (v/v) are moderate stimulants; concentrations of 5% to 40% (w/v) have no or rather an inhibitory effect. Oral, intragastric, and intraduodenal administrations of ethanol do not release gastrin, whereas beer and white and red wine but not whisky and cognac are potent stimulants of gastric acid secretion and release gastrin in humans. The stimulatory mechanism of low ethanol concentrations is unknown. Nonalcoholic constituents of beer and wine are most likely responsible for the strong stimulatory action of both beverages on gastric acid secretion and release of gastrin.