Postmenopausal women often suffer from osteoporosis, increasing their risk of fractures in old age. Spanish researchers found that moderate beer consumption by postmenopausal women can enhance bone density.
This academic paper was published in the American journal Nutrition. Researchers from the University of Extremadura in Cáceres, Spain, concluded based on a study of 1,700 women that moderate beer consumption during menopause can strengthen bones. However, the researchers do not recommend that everyone increase their alcohol intake.
The average age of the participating women was 48. Women classified as "light drinkers" and "moderate drinkers" consumed no more than 280 grams of alcohol per week. Ultrasound scans revealed higher bone density in the fingers of these women compared to non-drinkers. The results were cross-validated to account for factors like age and weight.
Researchers suggest that plant hormones in beer, rather than alcohol itself, may be responsible for this effect, though further study on these plant hormones is needed.
Previous recommendations from institutions including St. Thomas' Hospital in London suggested that an average of eight alcoholic drinks per week could be beneficial for health. The new findings support these conclusions.
However, some experts caution that the boundary between "beneficial" and "harmful" alcohol consumption may not be clear-cut. Dr. Claire Bowlin of the National Osteoporosis Society in the UK noted that moderate drinking may enhance bone density, while heavy drinking reduces it. Consuming more than two drinks daily actually increases fracture risk. Additionally, other health risks associated with alcohol consumption should not be overlooked.