Can Alcohol Cause Anemia? Is it Reversible?

You’ve been drinking pretty heavily for years and, thankfully, haven’t experienced any major health issues. But lately, you’ve started to notice some changes. You’re always exhausted no matter how much you sleep; you feel like you can barely climb the stairs without getting out of breath, and your skin has become unusually pale. What’s going on? 

In this post, we’ll explore what anemia is, whether alcohol causes it, and how this condition can be reversed. We’ll also offer some tips for how to treat anemia and boost your well-being. Let’s get started! 

What Is Anemia?

Before we explore whether alcohol causes anemia, it’s helpful to know exactly what anemia is. Simply put, anemia is a medical condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells. Why are red blood cells important? Well, they’re responsible for providing oxygen throughout our body. So, if we don’t have enough of them, our body doesn’t get enough oxygen, which means it doesn’t function as well as it could.

We can learn if we have anemia through a blood test, which will reveal our hemoglobin levels. Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, which is an iron-rich protein that attaches to oxygen in our lungs and carries it through our bloodstream. We have anemia if our blood test shows a hemoglobin value of less than 13.5 g/dl in a man or less than 12.0 g/dl in a woman.

Anemia affects nearly 2 billion people — one-fourth of the world’s population — according to a new study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). This condition usually affects women who are menstruating or pregnant and people with chronic medical conditions. Interestingly, if you have kidney disease, cancer, liver disease, thyroid disease, or rheumatoid arthritis, you’re at greater risk for anemia. 

Some of the most common symptoms of anemia include weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness, fatigue, headache, fast or irregular heartbeat, pale or yellow skin, and chest pain. However, many people don’t realize they have anemia until they complete a blood test. 

Can Alcohol Cause Anemia? 

Now that we have a better understanding of what anemia is, we can turn to the next question: can alcohol cause anemia? The general consensus among researchers is that heavy alcohol consumption can cause anemia indirectly. In other words, alcohol doesn’t directly cause anemia, but it can contribute to its development through various effects on the body.

For instance, alcohol can cause nutrient deficiencies, which lead to anemia. More specifically, alcohol can cause a deficiency in iron and B vitamins, particularly folate, which are vital for the healthy production and function of red blood cells. 

For instance, the most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. Iron is a vital component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Alcohol can disrupt the absorption of iron in our digestive system, leading to reduced iron levels in your body. As a result, your body may struggle to produce enough hemoglobin-rich red blood cells.

Furthermore, heavy alcohol consumption can also affect the bone marrow, where red blood cells are produced. As a result, fewer blood cells are created, which can lead to the development of anemia. 

It’s also worth noting that excessive alcohol consumption can damage our liver, leading to liver disease and cirrhosis. This, in turn, can cause internal bleeding and anemia. 

The bottom line? While moderate alcohol consumption, such as an occasional glass of wine or a beer, likely won’t be harmful, regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol puts us at risk for nutrient deficiencies that lead to anemia.

Types of Anemia Caused by Alcohol Misuse

Now that we have a better understanding of how alcohol can contribute to anemia, let’s look at the specific types of alcohol-related anemia.

• Iron-deficiency anemia. This is the most common type of anemia. High alcohol consumption can lead to an iron deficiency, which leads to the low hemoglobin levels associated with anemia. 
• Macrocytic anemia. This type of anemia is characterized by abnormally large red blood cells that end up getting destroyed more quickly than regular cells. Heavy drinkers often have a folate deficiency, which is one of the most common precursors to the development of this condition. 
• Aplastic anemia. This type of anemia occurs when our bone marrow doesn’t make enough red and white blood cells and platelets. Severe alcohol misuse can lead to the suppression of red blood cell production in the bone marrow, leading to this condition. 
• Megaloblastic anemia. This type of anemia is where the red blood cells are larger than normal and don’t function well. Heavy drinking can cause a deficiency in vitamin B12 and folate, which can lead to the development of this condition.
• Hemolytic anemia. This occurs when red blood cells are destroyed more quickly than normal in the bloodstream. Heavy, long-term consumption of alcohol can cause the formation of abnormal red blood cells, which get destroyed more easily. 

Regardless of the type, symptoms of alcohol-related anemia tend to be similar. Common symptoms include headache, cold hands and feet, lightheadedness, dizziness, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, weakness, chest pain, and inability to focus. If we notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical assistance. 

Can Alcohol-Induced Anemia Be Reversed?

The good news is that anemia caused by alcohol misuse is reversible — but only when we stop drinking. In fact, depending on how long we’ve been drinking, alcohol-induced anemia can resolve itself within several weeks once we quit drinking. 

That’s because our body starts to replenish important nutrients and minerals for red blood cell production, such as iron, folate, and other B vitamins that we lost when we were consuming alcohol. Similarly, when we stop drinking, our bone marrow can resume its normal function of producing red blood cells. 

Depending on our situation, a healthcare provider may also recommend folic acid, vitamin B-complex, or other supplements to help increase red blood cell production and functioning. They may also encourage us to eat a healthy diet full of foods rich in iron and vitamins, such as leafy greens and lean meats. 

Keep in mind that we can protect ourselves from macrocytic anemia and alcohol-induced anemia by limiting our consumption of alcohol or quitting drinking entirely. 

How Does Alcohol Affect Anemia?

So, what if we already have anemia: can we drink alcohol? While a drink here and there likely isn’t harmful, heavy drinking could make your condition worse.

As we’ve learned, consuming large amounts of alcohol can suppress blood cell production and lead to structural abnormalities of red blood cells, preventing their full maturation. Since anemic individuals already have a low red blood cell count, adding alcohol into the mix may lead to an even greater deficiency.

It’s also worth noting that alcohol can lead to symptoms associated with anemia, such as irregular heart beat, fatigue, and dizziness. Plus, heavy, long-term consumption of alcohol can have detrimental long-term effects on the body, which can complicate preexisting conditions. 

For all these reasons and more, experts recommend avoiding alcohol if you already have anemia. 

Tips for Treating Anemia

Now that we have a better understanding of the relationship between alcohol and anemia, let’s look at what we can do to treat this condition. Here are six tips: 

• Limit alcohol intake. Chronic, heavy consumption of alcohol can worsen anemia. Limiting or eliminating our alcohol intake is one of the best things we can do, not just for our condition but for our overall health and well-being. Keep in mind that alcohol does a number on our physical and mental health, even without anemia.

• Consume iron-rich foods. Proper nutrition is important for managing anemia as it can help boost red blood cell production. Focus on foods that are rich in iron, such as fish, red meat, spinach, sweet potatoes, legumes, quinoa, and broccoli. Leafy greens in general are good sources of iron and folic acid.

• Consume foods with vitamin C. Vitamin C helps our body absorb iron, so try making it a point to consume foods that contain high doses of vitamin C, such as oranges, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, kiwi, and other citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemon, and lime). We can also get vitamin C from drinking a glass of orange juice or putting some lemon or lime in your water.

• Avoid drinking caffeine with meals. Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea make it harder to absorb iron, so try to avoid drinking them while eating iron-rich foods. While it’s okay to drink them on their own, combining them with these foods can block iron absorption, which is counterproductive!

• Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can worsen any condition we have, including anemia, so be sure you’re consuming enough water. Experts recommend drinking at least six 8-ounce glasses of water a day, more if we’re physically active. Water helps blood volume and circulation. If we’re feeling weak or dizzy, try drinking a glass of water with lemon or lime.

• Practice relaxation techniques. A common symptom of anemia is a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath. We can help ourselves manage these symptoms by practicing stress reduction or relaxation techniques, such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, or deep breathing. Box breathing in particular is a simple and easy technique we can practice anywhere. All we have to do is breathe in through our nose while counting to four, hold our breath for four seconds, exhale through our mouth for four seconds, and hold for four seconds again. Repeat for five minutes.


These are common tips for managing anemia, but it’s important to always consult a healthcare provider for treatment and ongoing care.

The Bottom Line

Anemia is the most common of blood disorders and is characterized by a deficiency in red blood cells, which our body must have to get the oxygen it needs to function. Chronic alcohol misuse can increase our risk of anemia by interfering with the nutrients our body needs to produce red blood cells, particularly iron, B vitamins and folate. However, alcohol-induced anemia can be reversed by stopping drinking. If we already have anemia, it’s important to limit our consumption of alcohol, as regular drinking can make our condition worse.

If you want to cut back on drinking but don’t know where or how to start, consider trying Reframe. We’re a science-backed app that has helped millions of people reduce their alcohol consumption and enhance their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.