Alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing stomach ulcers, and taking Advil (ibuprofen), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), can further exacerbate this risk.

Stomach ulcers occur when the mucosal lining of the stomach is damaged, allowing digestive juices to erode the tissue. The two most common causes of stomach ulcers are Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection and long-term use of NSAIDs, such as Advil [1].

Alcohol can irritate and erode the mucosal lining of the stomach, increasing the likelihood of developing ulcers [2]. Moreover, alcohol interferes with the production of prostaglandins, which protect the stomach lining. This effect further increases the risk of stomach ulcers [3].

Concurrent use of NSAIDs and alcohol can have a synergistic effect on stomach ulcer risk. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which are crucial for prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins help maintain the mucosal lining of the stomach and regulate gastric acid secretion. By suppressing prostaglandin synthesis, NSAIDs like Advil make the stomach more susceptible to damage from alcohol and gastric acid [4].

In summary, alcohol consumption and Advil use can both increase the risk of stomach ulcers independently. When used together, they can have a compounding effect on stomach ulcer risk due to their shared mechanism of action on prostaglandin production and the stomach lining.

Sources:

1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2019). Peptic Ulcer Disease. <https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/peptic-ulcer-disease>
2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2019). Alcohol's Effects on the Body. <https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body>
3. Sarkar, A., & Banerjee, S. (2017). Alcohol and Gastric Ulcer. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535455/>
4. Ito, M., & Ito, M. (2019). Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535461/>
5. DrugPatentWatch.com. (n.d.). Ibuprofen. <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/ibuprofen>