Background: Published reports on the effect of alcohol consumption on bone
mineral density (BMD) are inconsistent.
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relation between
alcohol intake and BMD, calcitropic hormones, calcium absorption, and other
biochemical indexes of bone and mineral metabolism in elderly women.
Design: The results presented are derived from baseline observations of 489
elderly women (aged 65-77 y) recruited for an osteoporosis study. The nond
rinking group comprised 297 women and the drinking group comprised 148 wome
n. Furthermore, the effect of different alcohol intakes (less than or equal
to 28.6, >28.6 to less than or equal to 57.2, >57.2 to less than or equal
to 142.9, and >142.9 g/wk) was studied.
Results: Women who consumed alcohol had significantly higher spine (10%), t
otal body (4.5%), and midradius (6%) BMD than did nondrinkers. An alcohol i
ntake >28.6 g/wk was associated with higher BMD; maximum effect was seen wi
th an intake of >28.6 to less than or equal to 57.2 g/wk (16%, 12%, and 14%
increase in spine, total body, and midradius BMD, respectively). There was
a marked reduction in bone remodeling markers, serum osteocalcin, and the
ratio of urinary cross-linked N-telopeptides of type 1 collagen to creatini
ne with alcohol consumption, suggesting that increased BMD with alcohol con
sumption could be due to reduced bone remodeling. Further, serum parathyroi
d hormone concentrations were significantly lower in alcohol drinkers than
in nondrinkers and could be one of the causes of decreased bone resorption.
Conclusions: Moderate alcohol intake was associated with higher BMD in post
menopausal elderly women. The protective effect of alcohol may have been a
result of lower bone remodeling due to reduced parathyroid hormone concentr
ations or factors such as increased estrogen concentrations.