Moderate Drinking May Improve Bone Density
The researchers, led by Dr. Katherine Tucker of Tufts University (Boston) published their findings in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition as Effects of beer, wine, and liquor intakes on bone mineral density in older men and women.
The study included 1,182 men, 1,289 postmenopausal women, and 248 premenopausal women, across an age range of 29 to 86.
Men who drank a glass or two of beer or wine daily (most in the study drank beer) had a greater bone density than those who did not. However, men who were heavy liquor drinkers (two or more servings of hard liquor per day) had a significantly lower bone density than men who drank less liquor. Tucker and her colleagues believe that the high silicone content in beer is beneficial to bone density - not the alcohol content.
Most of the women in the study drank wine, and few drank much more than two glasses per day. Those who did drink two glasses per day had a greater bone density than those who drank less.
For both men and women, wine and beer had more of an effect than liquor. The researchers believe that this suggests it's not the alcohol in the drinks, but other constituents, that aid bone density.
Tucker explained to Reuters that:
Beer and wine may be better for people than liquor ... because they contain potentially beneficial plant substances such as resveratrol, while hard liquor has had most natural substances distilled out of it.
With alcohol occupying a questionable position as nutritional goodie or baddy (moderate drinking is thought to lower heart disease but to raise the risk of breast cancer), this study might seem like yet another piece to fit into the puzzle.
Ultimately, the take-home message is that if you're drinking moderately (especially if you're middle-aged or older), it won't be posing any risk to your bones. If you drink heavily, however, you may want to cut back to prevent future problems with your bones.
7 Comments
Add Your Comment
ADVERTISING
New
- FROM DIET BLOG
- Plus-Sized Nightclubs: Rattle and Rolls?
- Obesity Liver Damage Worse Than Alcohol?
- Is The Human Body Meant For Distance?
- Antioxidants: Bad for Diabetics?
- Exercise Makes Cigarettes less Desirable to Smokers
- FORUM
- Awesome Chipotle Chicken Recipe
- HCG Diet Has Stopped Working
- Christelle's Blog
- 6 Months and Still going...
- How Do You Stop Late Night Eating?
Categories
| Body Image Celebrities Diet Pills Diets Exercise |
Fast Food Funny Stuff Success Stories Teens and Kids Tips and Tools |
RSS Feed
Follow @DietBlog on Twitter
"If you drink heavily, however, you may want to cut back to prevent future problems with your bones."
Believe me, if a person drinks heavily the last thing they're worried about is bone advice. But for the people who have the sense to *not* drink heavily, your points may be taken well.
ReplyCan't you get some of these "resveratrol" benefits from grapes & other fruits or veggies? I see nothing wrong with a couple glasses of wine if you know when to stop but for those that are not drinkers, why not food based items that provide the same effect.
Saying that, hormones can drive you to drink!!!! Remember, I am 51! :-) Good thing I prefer to exercise to work off the hormone crap!
ReplyTeenagers can drive you to drink too! It's nice to know something good may result from their moody behavior!
ReplyI've also read that plenty of dairy in childhood is preventative of bone density problems when you're older.
ReplyAlso I've read that adolescence is a critical time for girls as far as establishing a strong base of bone density. Research seems to indicate that girls who are physically active in their adolescence have more bone density during their lives than inactive girls.
As for the drinking, it's a bit ironic that the light drinkers have greater bone density when the accident prone heavy drinkers probably need it more! I wonder if there's a correlation between heavy drinking and less physical activity. In other words, if the reason heavy drinkers have less bone density is because they also tend to be less health-minded, ie, less active.
As for resveratrol, there are companies now capitalizing on it's publicity by offering it in supplement form. I don't drink, so I have found a liquid source that I'm trying. We'll see how it works.
ReplyAnother reason to down a pint of Guinness? Bring it on. In moderation of course. It's known as the "meal in a glass" for good reason.
As for wine, I'm liking the Argentinian ones at the moment.
Let's hear your fav alcoholic beverage.
ReplyYet another reason to drink my one drink per day. It seems like there are more and more studies out there that reinforce the fact that if you drink a moderate amount of alcohol per day, there are some significant health benefits. I wonder if there was a difference between various styles of beer...ie, if dark beer is better than lighter beer, etc. Since it's not the alcohol content that's responsible, I wonder if some kooky scientist will isolate the specific compound and market it as an anti-osteoporosis medication and in reality it'll be the equivalent of drinking 20 six packs of beer...like the resveratrol thing.
Reply