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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #233425
Title: Effects of beer, wine and liquor intakes on bone mineral density in older adult men and women

Author
item Tucker, Katherine
item JUGDAOSINGH, RAVIN - MRC HUMAN NUTR RESRCH
item POWELL, JONATHAN - MRC HUMAN NUTR RESRCH
item QIAO, NING - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item HANNAN, MARIAN - HARVARD MED & HRCA INST
item SRIPANYAKORN, SUPANNEE - RAYNE INST/ST THOMAS HOSP
item CUPPLES, L ADRIENNE - BOSTON UNIV SCH PUB HLTH
item KIEL, DOUGLAS - HARVARD MED & HRCA INST

Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2008
Publication Date: 4/1/2009
Citation: Tucker, K., Jugdaosingh, R., Powell, J., Qiao, N., Hannan, M.T., Sripanyakorn, S., Cupples, L., Kiel, D.P. 2009. Effects of beer, wine and liquor intakes on bone mineral density in older adult men and women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 89:118-96.

Interpretive Summary: Moderate intake of alcohol has been reported to have beneficial effects on bone. However, different classes of alcoholic beverages have not been investigated. It has been suggested that wine drinkers may have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than drinkers of other alcoholic beverages, suggesting that components other than ethanol, such as polyphenols, may be important. We have previously shown a positive association between silicon (Si) intake and bone health in older men and pre-menopausal women. As beer is a good source of silicon, it is possible that part of the observed beneficial effect of alcoholic beverages on bone health is through exposure to this mineral. We therefore, examined the association between both total alcohol intake and the intake of different types of alcohol on bone health in older adult men, post-menopausal women and pre-menopausal women participating in the Framingham Offspring Osteoporosis Study. Men were predominantly beer drinkers and women, wine drinkers. Relative to non-drinkers, bone health was significantly greater in men consuming 1-2 drinks/day of total alcohol or beer and greater in post-menopausal women consuming >2 drinks/day of total alcohol or wine. Intake of >2 drinks/day of liquor in men was associated with significantly poorer bone health relative to 1-2 drinks/day. Moderate consumption of alcohol may be beneficial to bone in men and post-menopausal women. However, in men, high alcohol intakes (>2 drinks/day) were associated with significantly poorer bone health. The tendency toward stronger associations between bone health and beer and wine, relative to liquor, suggest that constituents other than ethanol may contribute to bone status. Silicon appears to make some contribution from beer. Other compounds need further investigation.

Technical Abstract: Moderate intake of alcohol has been reported to have beneficial effects on bone. However, different classes of alcoholic beverages have not been investigated. We examined alcohol intake (total and individual types) and BMD in 1251 men, 1317 post-menopausal and 264 pre-menopausal women in the population-based Framingham Offspring cohort (aged 30–87 y) at three hip sites and lumbar spine, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Men were predominantly beer drinkers and women, wine drinkers. Relative to non-drinkers, hip BMD was significantly (2.3 - 6.5%) greater in men consuming 1-2 drinks/day of total alcohol or beer; and both hip and spine BMD were significantly greater (4.8 - 9.0%) in post-menopausal women consuming >2 drinks/day of total alcohol or wine. Intake of >2 drinks/day of liquor in men was associated with significantly (7.0-7.9%) lower hip and spine BMD relative to 1-2 drinks/day. Adjustment for silicon intake reduced to non-significance all inter-group differences for beer but not for other alcohol sources. There were no significant associations with pre-menopausal women, but power was low for this group. In conclusion, moderate consumption of alcohol may be beneficial to bone in men and post-menopausal women. However, in men, high alcohol intakes (>2 drinks/day) were associated with significantly lower BMD. The tendency toward stronger associations between BMD and beer and wine, relative to liquor, suggest that constituents other than ethanol may contribute to bone status. Silicon appears to make some contribution from beer. Other compounds need further investigation.