Beer May Lower Women’s Risk of Developing Arthritis

Drinking a couple beers throughout the week may lower the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RH) in women, according to researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

So, just how much of a problem is RH? The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 52.5 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with some type of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia by a medical practitioner. RH is a chronic form of arthritis that’s characterized by an autoimmune response which attacks the joints; thus, causing painful inflammation. While there’s no known cure for RH, there are preventive measures that may reduce a person’s risk of developing the disease.

The study, published in the Arthritis & Rheumatism, found that moderate consumption of beer lowered women’s risk of developing RH by roughly 33%. Researchers analyzed data of 137,000 registered nurses, paying close attention to their diet, lifestyle and alcohol consumption (or lack thereof). Surprisingly, researchers concluded that long-term consumption of moderate levels of alcohol resulted in lower rates of RH when compared to women who did not drink alcohol on a regular basis.

While all forms of alcohol — liquor, beer and wine — resulted in lower rates of RH, the greatest risk reduction occurred in women who drank no more than 4 beers per week. The 2-4 beers per mark seemed to offer the most benefit for lowering women’s risk of developing RH. Women who drank more than this amount had experienced diminished benefit.

“Long-term, moderate alcohol drinking may reduce future rheumatoid arthritis development,” said lead researcher Dr. Bing Lu.

Why does consumption of beer result in lower rates of RH? Unfortunately, this is something Dr. Bing Lu and her team of colleagues have yet to understand. There’s some belief that the alcohol triggers some sort of neurological response, which in turn reduces the chance of RH attacks.

The health benefits of beer doesn’t end with RH, however. Other studies have linked moderate beer consumption to lower rates of kidney stones, heart disease, diabetes and more. The key thing to remember is moderation. Drinking excessively each and every night will have an opposite effect by harming the body’s organs and normal function rather than helping it.

Experts stress that people with RH should talk to their doctor before drinking any alcoholic beverage, as it may interfere with certain prescription medications.