Moderate beer consumption linked to improved bone strength
Spanish researchers have found that drinking a moderate amount of beer may be beneficial for women's bone mineral density.
The strength of people's bones starts to decrease as they approach middle age. Among women, the process speeds up after the menopause as the ovaries stop producing oestrogen, a hormone that helps to maintain the bones.
Scientists at the University of Extremadura in Caceres, Spain, conducted a study involving 1,697 healthy women, 811 of whom were postmenopausal while a further 176 were going through the menopause.
Participants were required to complete questionnaires, providing information on their smoking habits, as well as their levels of alcohol, caffeine and nutrient consumption.
The women also agreed to undergo ultrasound scans so that the density of their bones could be assessed.
The researchers found that participants who reported drinking beer on a regular basis tended to have greater bone density than those who did not drink beer or who tended to consume wine.
Reporting their findings in Nutrition journal, they suggested that "the greater bone density found in women beer drinkers might be a result of the phytoestrogen content of this alcoholic drink".
Phytoestrogens are plant hormones that are similar to the human hormone oestrogen and which may therefore help to replenish low levels of oestrogen following the menopause.
However, previous research has shown that excessive alcohol consumption can weaken the bones and women are advised not to consume more than two to three units per day.
© Adfero Ltd
Recent related stories:
05 February 2010
03 February 2010
02 February 2010
02 February 2010
01 February 2010
01 February 2010
01 February 2010
RSS feed 