Maroon Colored Stools, No Previous Medical History. Can Drinking Full Bodied Red Wine Cause This?

Posted on Sat, 26 Nov 2011

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 Answered on

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : can drinking full bodied red wine cause maroon coloured stools

I have no other conditions

Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (1 hour later)

Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

There are many foods and food additives which can change the color of stools. Tannons or high pigment colors in wine can make the stools appear purple or maroonish black. Other foods which can cause maroon colored stools are red colored gelatin, popsicles, Kool-Aid, tomato juice, soup and beets.

Keep an eye on the stool color. If repeat maroon color stools occur without any prior history of ingestion of these food stuffs, then you have to consult a physician and get blood in stools ruled out.

In that case, maroon colored stools can be due to diverticulitis, vascular malformation, intestinal Infection (including parasites), irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Tumors, Polyps, Colon Cancer, Ulcers, Gastritis and Esophageal Varices.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wish you good health.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad