[Effects of nicotine, alcohol and caffeine on the incidence, healing and recurrence rate of peptic ulcer].

A causal relationship exists between the incidence of peptic ulcer and smoking: smoking is significantly associated with a higher prevalence of gastric duodenal ulcer. Either type of peptic ulcer demonstrates a lower healing rate in smokers as compared to non-smokers and impaired spontaneous and drug-induced healing. Smoking is a major factor for rapidity of duodenal ulcer recurrence. Incidence, healing rate, and recurrence rate correlate with the number of cigarettes smoked. Beyond this, smoking increases the likelihood of ulcer perforation. The normal life expectancy is reduced in smokers after gastric surgery for peptic ulcer disease. Moderate alcohol and caffeine consumption presumably have no effect on the incidence of peptic ulcer. However, continuous alcohol abuse seems to increase the prevalence of duodenal ulcer. In ulcer disease, it seems unwarranted to exclusively interdict caffeine-containing or alcoholic beverages while permitting other equally potent stimulants of gastric acid secretion like milk.