Alcohol Reduces Risk of Developing Arthritis

ROMEConsuming alcohol may significantly reduced the risk of developing several arthritic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondylarthropathy, according to results of a new study presented at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism. Regardless of the type of arthritis, all patients reported drinking less alcohol than controls, leading to questions around the inflammatory pathways behind the effects seen.

We know from previous research that alcohol consumption may confer a protective effect against developing RA, our data have shown that this effect may apply to other arthritic conditions too, said Dr. Annekoos Leonoor Huidekoper, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands and lead author of the study. What intrigues us now is that the findings related to systemic inflammation, further research into the inflammatory pathways involved is needed to determine the exact nature of the association.