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Drinking Alcohol Cuts Risk Of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis In Half, Study Suggests
Science Daily ^ | 6-5-2008 | BMJ-British Medical Journal

Posted on 06/05/2008 10:47:18 AM PDT by blam

Drinking Alcohol Cuts Risk Of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis In Half, Study Suggests

ScienceDaily (Jun. 5, 2008) — Alcohol cuts the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by up to 50%, reveals research published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

The Scandinavian researchers base their findings on more than 2750 people taking part in two separate studies, which assessed environmental and genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis.

Over half the participants (1650) had the disease and had been matched for age, sex, and residential locality with randomly selected members of the general public.

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

The results showed that drinking alcohol was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. And the more alcohol was consumed, the lower the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Among those who drank regularly, the quarter with the highest consumption were up to 50% less likely to develop the disease compared with the half who drank the least.

The effect was the same for both men and women.

Among those with antibodies to a specific group of proteins involved in the development of the disease, alcohol cut the risk most in smokers with genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis.

Smoking is known to be a major environmental risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis, and this risk is further increased in those who carry these genetic variants.

The authors conclude that their research reinforces the importance of lifestyle factors in the development of the disease, and that giving up smoking remains the single most important preventive measure.

They point to recent experimental research by other authors, which showed that alcohol protected against the development and severity of rheumatoid arthritis, although it is not clear exactly how it does this.

And they draw parallels with the links between moderate alcohol consumption and a reduced risk of other inflammatory processes, such as cardiovascular disease.

Adapted from materials provided by BMJ-British Medical Journal, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: alcohol; arthritis; drinking; health; rheumatoid
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1 posted on 06/05/2008 10:49:07 AM PDT by blam
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To: blam

Bottoms up!


2 posted on 06/05/2008 10:50:59 AM PDT by RockinRight (Obama '08 - Because Jimmy Carter Didn't Screw Things Up Enough)
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To: blam

Isopropyl?


3 posted on 06/05/2008 10:51:15 AM PDT by TexGuy (If it has the slimmest of chances of being considered sarcasm ... IT IS!)
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To: blam

Cheers !!!!!!


4 posted on 06/05/2008 10:53:40 AM PDT by Kimmers (Taxation with representation ain't much fun either...)
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To: blam

Tell that to the folks with the rheumatoid disease called gout.

They’d love to have a beer but alcohol is the number one cause of gout.


5 posted on 06/05/2008 10:54:27 AM PDT by George from New England (now from north of Tampa Bay)
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To: MeanWestTexan

I guess your night of drinking was worth something after all.


6 posted on 06/05/2008 10:56:22 AM PDT by pdbeaches
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To: blam; Owl_Eagle; Sam's Army; Lazamataz; Darksheare; pissant; najida; r-q-tek86; blackie; ...
I told you it was good stuff....

Drink up!!!

7 posted on 06/05/2008 10:56:49 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (Some days it is not worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: blam

I’ll drink to that!


8 posted on 06/05/2008 10:57:11 AM PDT by mysterio
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To: neverdem

ping


9 posted on 06/05/2008 10:57:22 AM PDT by GOPJ ( World Series - it's how many games are won, not total runs. Same for Hillary's "total vote" crap.)
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To: blam
See...Theresa Heinz had the right idea when she not only ate those 9 gin soaked raisins but drank the fifth of gin she soaked them in!

Even if it doesn't cure your arthritis, if you follow her directions, you won't feel it anyway.

10 posted on 06/05/2008 10:58:44 AM PDT by penowa
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To: blam

I’ll strike that off of my list of afflictions I’m worried about getting.


11 posted on 06/05/2008 11:00:51 AM PDT by CougarGA7 (Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.)
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To: blam

Well, if it’s true I figure by now my chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis must be right around my chances of being struck by lightning. At the bottom of the ocean.


12 posted on 06/05/2008 11:03:43 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: blam

what about brain tumors? http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/-/c/ted_kennedy_hooters.jpg


13 posted on 06/05/2008 11:03:47 AM PDT by shooter223 (the government should fear the citizens......not the other way around)
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To: blam

I also hear alcohol help with diabetes. iirc, I read it on FR, Is it wine or does it matter what kind of alcohol?


14 posted on 06/05/2008 11:04:22 AM PDT by apocalypto
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To: blam

A couple of drinks sure loosen me up! =8-p


15 posted on 06/05/2008 11:06:38 AM PDT by KosmicKitty (WARNING: Hormonally crazed woman ahead!!)
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To: blam

A round of drinks for everybody, bartender!


16 posted on 06/05/2008 11:09:44 AM PDT by hoe_cake (Reasonable minds can disagree.)
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To: GOPJ

thanks, bfl


17 posted on 06/05/2008 11:11:17 AM PDT by neverdem (I'm praying for a Divine Intervention.)
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To: George from New England

You took the words right out of my mouth. I get bouts every now and them and it’s as painfull as anything I’ve had in my life.


18 posted on 06/05/2008 11:23:58 AM PDT by HenpeckedCon (Deport them all... Let God sort them out!)
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To: blam

Cheers!


19 posted on 06/05/2008 11:51:42 AM PDT by Redleg Duke ("All gave some, and some gave all!")
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To: blam
Now I feel better about the recent taste for dark rum and mango juice I have acquired. Maybe it's a seasonal thing.
20 posted on 06/05/2008 12:17:49 PM PDT by isrul (Help make every day, "Disrespect a muzzie day.")
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