Alcohol 'cuts risk of arthritis'

al-BBC ^ | June 5, 2008 | Staff

[Schnucki]

A regular tipple cuts the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by up to half, Swedish research suggests.

The Karolinska Institute assessed 2,750 people in two studies, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases reports.

The risk was up to 50% lower for those who drank the equivalent of five glasses of wine a week compared with those who drank the least, they found.

However, arthritis experts warned that drinking too much alcohol increased the risk of a range of health problems.

Rheumatoid arthritis - an auto-immune disease caused by a malfunctioning immune system - is a condition which results in tender, stiff and swollen joints. It affects 400,000 people in the UK.

The two separate studies assessed environmental and genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis.

Participants were quizzed about their lifestyle, including how much they smoked and drank, while blood samples were taken to check for genetic risk factors.

Smoking highlighted

Researcher Dr Henrik Kallberg stressed the most important finding of the study was that smoking was a very significant risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, reinforcing findings from previous studies.

However, he added: "In addition, it is important to know that moderate alcohol consumption is not deleterious and may in some contexts be beneficial concerning risk for future onset of rheumatoid arthritis."

There are known to be links between moderate alcohol consumption and a reduced risk of other inflammatory processes, such as cardiovascular disease. However, the reason for this is still unclear.

Professor Robert Moots, from the Arthritis Research Campaign, said it was possible that drinking alcohol may have a protective effect against rheumatoid arthritis.

But he said the study was not conclusive and any protective effect was not properly understood.

He said: "There is no doubt that drinking too much is very bad for our health in many ways and these risks by far outweigh any potential benefit for reducing the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, which this study points to, without being conclusive.

"We must also remember that drinking alcohol in excess can be especially dangerous in patients taking some anti-rheumatoid drugs that may cause liver damage.

"There are many modifiable lifestyle risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis and, as this study also points out, smoking is by far the greatest."

A spokesman for Arthritis Care said: "It's too early to say what these findings may mean, so people with rheumatoid arthritis should continue to work in partnership with their health professionals to address their specific health needs."

[Wpin]

I don’t know...I drank enough to necessitate time in rehab and I have had arthritis since I was in my mid 30’s... :)

(for those without a sense of humor, I am kidding around)

[freedom4me]

As the Brits would say, “Here, here!”

[EnquiringMind]

This study states that regular drinking can prevent rheumaoid arthritis from developing. But what if a non-drinker with rheumatoid arthritis starts drinking? Do the symptoms become milder?

[tlb]

So either way you wind up stiff?

[republicangel]

It says in the article- don’t try it if you are on anti-rheumatoid drugs. Liver damage.

But I was wondering the same thing. So all of those years that I didn’t drink and was smoking... I was setting myself up for rheumatoid arthritis. I don’t smoke anymore, luckily, but ended up with a lung disease caused by the arthritis.

[rod1]

Among other things age, condition and amount of alcohol is critical. Correcting a misregulated immune system via inflammatory cell suppression (at the onset of arthritis) is one thing. But a preganant woman drinking a bit too much targets surfatactant induced-macrophage maturation, increases the risk of neonatal innate immuneand respiratory problems, and increased the disease risk for sepsis, ear infections, etc. So keep in mind that alchol might be potentially effective and helpful with immune dysfunction such as arthritis because it interacts with the immune system. You don’t want it interacting with a developing immune system or have excessive exposure with a well regulated adult immune system.

[G.Mason]

I drink and I smoke ... though purely for defensive purposes.

It is great for keeping away the holier than thou crowd, along with the leftists pukes.

“I keep two magnums
in my desk drawer.

One is a gun
that I keep loaded.
The other is a bottle
and it keeps me loaded.” ...

[don-o]

As the Brits would say, “Here, here!”

I always thought that was "Hear, hear!"

[Right Wing Assault]

I always thought that was "Hear, hear!"

Maybe it's "Hear, here!"

[HenpeckedCon]

I used to have Irish Arthritis, I got stiff in a different joint every night.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

I guess Uncle Teddy and his clan will never suffer from arthritis.

[BallyBill]

[The Eagle Bomb]

Breakfast is the most important beer of the day