Moderate Alcohol Consumption Is Associated with Lower Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis

In a prospective study, risk was 40% to 50% lower in older women who weren't teetotalers.

Alcohol consumption lowers production of proinflammatory molecules, and an inverse relation between alcohol consumption and risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been observed previously in case-control studies. To test this association prospectively, researchers conducted a population-based cohort study of more than 34,000 Swedish women (age, ≥39 in 1987). Participants provided data on alcohol consumption in 1987 and 1997.

During follow-up from 2003 until 2009, 197 new cases of RA were identified. The multivariable adjusted relative risk for RA during follow-up was 37% lower in women who drank >4 glasses of alcohol (1 glass = 15 g of ethanol) weekly in 1997 than in women who drank <1 glass of alcohol weekly. Similarly, adjusted risk for RA was 52% lower in women who drank >3 glasses of alcohol weekly in both 1987 and 1997 than in never drinkers.

Comment

This prospective study affirms that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower risk for rheumatoid arthritis in women. The investigators note that their results are consistent with the known inverse relation between alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease risk (JW Gen Med Mar 15 2011) and “add to the evidence that moderate alcohol consumption is not harmful and can be protective against” chronic disease.

Reviewing Author

Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose