Alcohol halves the risk of rheumatoid arthritis

Research from scientists in Sweden has found that drinking alcohol halves the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

The scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, say drinking five glasses of wine a week, on a regular basis, reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis by 50%.

In two separate studies, involving 2,750 people, the environmental and genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis were assessed.

The study participants answered questions about their lifestyle, including how much they smoked and drank, blood samples were then taken in order to check for genetic risk factors.

The researchers compared those who drank the equivalent of five glasses of wine a week with those who drank the least and say a regular tipple reduces the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by up to half.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an an auto-immune disease caused by a malfunctioning immune system, which results in tender, stiff and swollen joints and can be extremely debilitating.

Researcher Dr. Henrik Kallberg says the most important finding of the study was that smoking was a very significant risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis but moderate alcohol consumption may offer benefits in terms of the onset of the disease.

Research suggests there are links between moderate alcohol consumption and a reduced risk of other inflammatory processes, such as cardiovascular disease, but arthritis experts warn that drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of a range of health problems.

They also point out that drinking too much alcohol is bad for the health in many ways and can be especially dangerous for patients taking some anti-rheumatoid drugs that may cause liver damage.

The research is published online in the medical journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.