NEWS A diet high in red meat and alcohol could triple the risk of relapse in patients with ulcerative colitis

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Alcohol, Red Meat Raise Colitis Relapse Risk

--Dennis

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDayNews) -- A diet high in red meat and alcohol

could triple the risk of relapse in patients with ulcerative colitis, a new

study says.

While monitoring 183 British men and women with the inflammatory bowel

disease, doctors at the University of Newcastle found those who ate more

than 100 grams of meat a day were three times as likely to relapse as people

eating 50 grams or less a day.

The risk increased to five times as likely if the people were eating red

meat or processed meats, according to the study, which appears in the

October issue of Gut.

Those who drank the most alcohol were three times as likely to experience a

recurrence, the researchers found.

High intakes of sulfur and sulfate were associated with relapse, which could

explain the link with red meat and alcohol. Dietary sulfur is mostly found

in high-protein foods, while sulphate is found in many alcoholic drinks.

More information

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse has more about

ulcerative colitis.