Search resultsEffect of a moderate alcohol consumption on bone mineral metabolism in postmenopausal women
Title
Effect of a moderate alcohol consumption on bone mineral metabolism in postmenopausal women
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2002
Authors
Journal
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades Metabolicas Oseas
Volume
11
Issue
5
Pagination
171 - 177
Date published
2002
ISBN
11328460 (ISSN)
Keywords
Adult, alcohol, alcohol consumption, article, biochemistry, bone mineral, Bone Remodeling, Colles fracture, controlled study, densitometry, Female, femur neck, hip fracture, human, lumbar spine, major clinical study, Mineral metabolism, Moderate intake, Postmenopausal osteoporosis, postmenopause, prevalence, questionnaire, vertebra fracture
Abstract
Background. There are some controversial results about the effect of low dose of alcohol on bone mineral metabolism. In this work we study the effect produced by low dose of alcohol on the bone mineral metabolism in a group of postmenopausal women: bone mineral density, biochemical markers of bone remodelling, some calciotropic hormones and the prevalence of fractures. Methods. We performed a questionnaire and measured bone mineral density by DEXA in the lumbar spine and proximal femur and by QCT in the lumbar spine on 974 postmenopausal women. We also assessed some biochemical markers of bone remodelling and recorded the prevalence of osteoporotic fractures both by the questionnaire (Colles'and hip fractures) and by performing a lateral Rx of the spine (vertebral fractures). Results. Those women with moderate alcohol intake showed higher values of BMD than both in lumbar spine measured it by DEXA (0.890 ± 0.158 g/cm2 versus 0.856 ± 0.147 g/cm2) and by QCT (122.1 ± 46.3 mg/cc versus 113.1 ± 48 mg/cc), p < 0.05 in every case. Same results were found in some areas of the proximal femur: femoral neck and trochanter, but not in others: intertrochanter, total, and Ward's triangle. The prevalence of densitometric values of normality, osteopenia and osteoporosis was similar in both groups. Finally, the prevalence of fractures did not show differences between both groups of postmenopausal women (OR: 0.858; 0.606; 1.331). Conclusion. The moderate intake of alcohol produces a slight but significant increase in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, but does not lead either to a lesser prevalence of osteoporosis or to a clinical reduction in the frequency of fractures. Our results does not allow to ascertain that moderate dose of alcohol has a protective effect on bone.