Can drinking wine cause inflammation in your body?

January 9, 2026 •

3 min read

According to the World Health Organization, alcohol is linked to over 5% of the global disease burden, often fueling inflammation. This raises a key question for many: Can drinking wine cause inflammation in your body, or is a daily glass actually good for you?

Quick Summary

The relationship between wine and inflammation is complex and dose-dependent, with factors like oxidative stress and gut health playing a key role. While heavy consumption is pro-inflammatory, moderate intake of certain wines may have anti-inflammatory benefits.

Key Points

Dose-Dependent Effect: Heavy or binge wine consumption is pro-inflammatory, while moderate intake may be associated with anti-inflammatory effects due to antioxidant polyphenols.
Oxidative Stress and Toxins: Wine's ethanol is metabolized into toxic compounds like acetaldehyde, which triggers oxidative stress and cellular damage that fuels inflammation.
Gut Microbiome Disruption: Excessive alcohol alters the balance of gut bacteria and increases gut permeability, allowing toxins to leak into the bloodstream and cause systemic inflammation.
Signs of Chronic Inflammation: Watch for subtle symptoms like persistent fatigue, joint pain, digestive issues, skin flare-ups, and changes in mood or cognition.
Polyphenols Offer Potential Benefits: Red wine's polyphenols, such as resveratrol, possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may offer protective effects, though moderation is crucial.
Individual Differences: Factors like genetics, overall health, and diet influence how your body reacts to wine, making the inflammatory response highly personal.

The Science Behind Alcohol and Inflammation

Alcohol's effect on the body's inflammatory response is a complex process influenced by the amount consumed, the pattern of drinking, and individual factors like genetics and gut health. The body processes alcohol as a toxin, initiating defensive reactions that can lead to inflammation.

Alcohol Metabolism and Oxidative Stress

Ethanol is primarily metabolized in the liver, converting it to acetaldehyde and then acetate. This process generates oxidative stress, an imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. Oxidative stress can damage proteins and DNA, driving inflammation. Chronic heavy drinking overwhelms the body's antioxidant defenses, causing persistent oxidative damage and inflammation.

Gut Microbiome Disruption and Leaky Gut

Excessive alcohol disrupts the gut microbiome, causing dysbiosis. This reduces beneficial bacteria and promotes harmful ones, damaging the intestinal lining and increasing permeability, leading to "leaky gut". Bacterial toxins, like lipopolysaccharides (LPS), then enter the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation.

Immune System Activation

Toxins entering the bloodstream activate the immune system, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. This leads to systemic inflammation, linked to cardiovascular disease, liver damage, and autoimmune disorders. Moderate alcohol intake, however, has been associated with lower levels of some inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP).

Wine's Dual Nature: Pro-inflammatory vs. Anti-inflammatory Effects

The impact of wine on inflammation is complex due to its various compounds, making dosage and consumption pattern crucial.

The Role of Polyphenols

Red wine contains polyphenols like resveratrol, which are potent antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds may help counter oxidative stress. Moderate red wine consumption may offer anti-inflammatory benefits, possibly due to these non-alcoholic components. However, these benefits depend on moderate intake and may not offset the pro-inflammatory effects of ethanol in larger amounts.

The Critical Factor: Dosage and Pattern of Drinking

The link between wine and inflammation often follows a J-shaped or U-shaped curve, heavily influenced by the amount consumed. Moderate consumption (one glass daily for women, up to two for men) may be linked to some anti-inflammatory benefits, potentially due to polyphenols. In contrast, heavy or binge drinking is strongly pro-inflammatory, disrupting the gut, increasing oxidative stress, and damaging organs. A study found a J-shaped association between alcohol and CRP levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients, with light drinkers showing the lowest inflammation markers.

Comparison: Moderate vs. Heavy Wine Consumption


Feature	Moderate Wine Consumption	Heavy Wine/Binge Drinking
Polyphenol Effect	Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits may be present.	Potential benefits overwhelmed by the negative effects of high alcohol content.
Oxidative Stress	Limited oxidative stress, potentially mitigated by polyphenols.	Significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress.
Gut Microbiome	Can contribute to a healthy gut microbiome and diversity, particularly red wine.	Causes dysbiosis (imbalance) and damage to the gut lining.
Gut Permeability	No significant impact on intestinal barrier function in most studies.	Increases intestinal permeability, leading to a "leaky gut".
Inflammatory Markers	Associated with lower levels of systemic inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP).	Causes elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6) and CRP.

Chronic inflammation from heavy alcohol use can manifest in various ways. These signs can include chronic fatigue, joint and muscle pain, digestive issues, skin problems, brain fog and mood changes, and frequent infections.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Balance

Heavy or binge drinking is a clear cause of systemic inflammation due to oxidative stress and gut damage. However, moderate consumption, especially of polyphenol-rich red wine, may not have the same negative effects and could offer some anti-inflammatory benefits. The key is the dose and pattern. Individual factors like genetics and health also play a significant role. For more details on the connection between autoimmune disease and alcohol, refer to {Link: droracle.ai https://droracle.ai/articles/60337/what-is-the-relationship-between-autoimmune-disease-and-alcohol-consumption}. If you are concerned about alcohol and inflammation, consult a healthcare professional.

Visit this link for more information on how alcohol affects your gut health

Frequently Asked Questions

For most healthy adults, a single glass of wine per day is typically considered moderate intake and is unlikely to cause significant inflammation. In fact, some studies suggest it may be associated with a lower inflammatory marker profile, particularly if it's red wine. However, this can vary based on individual sensitivity and overall health.

Red wine contains higher levels of polyphenols and antioxidants, such as resveratrol, than white wine. This leads some studies to suggest that moderate red wine consumption may have stronger anti-inflammatory benefits compared to white wine, which has lower levels of these bioactive compounds.

During alcohol metabolism, the body produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) that overwhelm the natural antioxidant defenses, a state known as oxidative stress. This damages cells and tissues, triggering an immune response that releases pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to systemic inflammation.

Excessive wine consumption can lead to gut dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) and increase intestinal permeability, also known as 'leaky gut'. This allows bacterial toxins to enter the bloodstream, where they activate the immune system and cause systemic inflammation.

Yes, discontinuing alcohol consumption can help reduce and reverse inflammation caused by alcohol use. For some, especially those with chronic alcohol-related inflammation, improvements can begin within days or weeks, while more significant liver inflammation and systemic effects may take months to resolve.

The relationship is complex and dose-dependent. Heavy drinking can increase inflammation and exacerbate autoimmune symptoms, potentially triggering flare-ups. In contrast, some research suggests a protective effect with light-to-moderate intake, possibly through modulation of immune cells or gut bacteria, but this requires more research and isn't a recommendation to drink.

Yes. Acute inflammation, often seen after binge drinking, can cause short-term symptoms like headaches, nausea, and bloating. Chronic inflammation from long-term heavy use leads to more vague, persistent symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, and mood changes.