A Little Alcohol Protects Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

Author: Victoria Aly Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about A Little Alcohol Protects Against Rheumatoid Arthritis. The risk of developing autoimmune disease is reduced by 52%..

Consumption of a pint of beer or a small glass of wine three times a week halves the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, scientists estimate.

It is believed that moderate alcohol consumption can help prevent the disease by affecting the immune system.

A study by the Carolingian Institute in Stockholm looked at the link between alcohol and rheumatoid arthritis in 34,000 women. They fill out questionnaires related to alcohol consumption, diet, smoking, physical activity, level of education and other factors.

The results show that drinking up to three times a week reduces the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by 52%.

One drink is classified as: a small glass of wine (150 ml), a mug of beer or 50 ml of alcohol.

All types of drinks are equally effective, explains the research team.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes chronic inflammation of the joints. It can also affect the tissues around the joints as well as other organs.

About 400,000 people in the UK suffer from autoimmune disease, which is three times more common in women than in men. According to our data, about 60,000 Bulgarians suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

Experts point out that excessive alcohol consumption can be especially dangerous for people with rheumatoid arthritis, taking certain antirheumatic drugs that can cause liver damage, as well as anti-inflammatory painkillers, which in turn lead to gastrointestinal problems. Alcohol use can aggravate them.

The results are published in the online version of the British Medical Journal .

A Little Alcohol Protects Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

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