| Can a beer a day keep arthritis away? That appears | | | | Earlier, Swedish researchers found that mice were |
| to be the case in a new study conducted by Swedish | | | | protected from RA when they were given daily doses |
| researchers who found that regular alcohol intake can | | | | of water containing ten percent ethanol - the alcohol in |
| cut a person’s risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by | | | | beers, spirits, and wines. Compared to other mice, the |
| half. | | | | ones who took the “spiked” water developed |
| Speaking at the annual European Congress of | | | | RA at a significantly slower rate. |
| Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain, Henrik Kallberg of | | | | No one knows why this happens but Kallberg believes |
| the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm said that drinking | | | | alcohol affects the immune system that RA targets. |
| three or 10 glasses of wine or beer weekly can help | | | | Unlike osteoarthritis that results from the wear and |
| prevent RA, a crippling inflammatory disease that | | | | tear of the joints, RA is an inflammatory disease in |
| affects over 20 million people worldwide. | | | | which the body’s immune system attacks the |
| Consuming these amounts resulted in a 50 percent | | | | tissue that lines the joints. |
| drop in the risk in developing the disease and they | | | | “RA usually causes problems in several joints at |
| appear to offset genetic and smoking-related risks of | | | | the same time. Early in RA, the joints in your wrists, |
| RA. The study involved over 2,000 Swedes. | | | | hands, feet, and knees are the ones most often |
| "These data not only show that alcohol can protect | | | | affected. As the disease progresses, your shoulders, |
| against RA and reduce the risk conferred by smoking | | | | elbows, hips, jaw, and neck can become involved. It |
| or susceptible genes, but also give us an idea of the | | | | generally affects both sides of your body at the same |
| relevant doses necessary," Kallberg said. | | | | time. The knuckles of both hands are one |
| The announcement was welcomed by Tore Kvien, | | | | example,” according to the Mayo Clinic. |
| president of the European League Against | | | | “Although more work is needed to unravel the |
| Rheumatism, who called the findings "very interesting" | | | | science behind the connection, Kallberg said it was |
| but cautioned against excessive drinking that could | | | | likely that alcohol suppressed the immune system and |
| lead to other medical problems. He said more research | | | | damped down the inflammatory process behind the |
| is required to determine how alcohol protects against | | | | condition,” reported Ben Hirschler in Reuters. |
| RA. | | | | |