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Alcohol Inhibits Bone Formation
Bone loss is an overlooked consequence of heavy drinking, but research has illuminated how alcohol takes a toll on the bones, according to a new report.
In a review of cell, animal and human studies, Dr. Dennis A. Chakkalakal of the Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Nebraska describes how heavy drinking leads to bone loss, higher risk of fractures and slower healing of bone breaks.
The main problem appears to be alcohol inhibits the normal formation of bone, Dr. Chakkalakal said in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
Though excessive drinking has been shown to promote bone thinning and fractures, some studies have suggested that moderate drinking may help protect bone mass, possibly because small amounts of alcohol promote bone formation.
The opposite appears true of high amounts of alcohol, according to Dr. Chakkalakal’s review.
Throughout adulthood, bone undergoes a process of “remodeling,” whereby cells called osteoclasts break down small portions of old bone, and cells called osteoblasts form new bone. In healthy, younger adults, this process is usually balanced, so that bone mass is maintained. Too much alcohol appears to inhibit osteoblasts from doing their job, and heavy drinkers may start to lose bone mass in just a few years, according to Dr. Chakkalakal.
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