3 minute lightning oral presentation (and poster) ESA-SRB-APEG-NZSE 2022

Relationship between volume and type of alcohol consumption and bone mineral density in men (#131)

Andrew Peel 1 , David Jesudason 1 , Gary Wittert 1
  1. Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Background: There is conflicting data relating to the effect of volume and type of alcohol consumed on bone mineral density (BMD).

Aim: Determine the cross sectional and longitudinal associations between amount and type of alcohol consumption and BMD in a community dwelling cohort of middle-aged to older men. We hypothesised that both volume and type of alcohol consumed impact on BMD

Methods: Participants (n=693) were derived and representative of the Florey Adelaide Male Aging Study (FAMAS) cohort (n=1195). Bone density was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at commencement and 5-year follow-up. Alcohol consumption was determined through Cancer Council Victoria Diet Questionnaire for Epidemiological Studies Version 3.1, and was classified into beer (high/low concentration), red wine, white wine and port/sherry/spirits. Multivariable regression was performed to assess cross sectional and longitudinal associations between types of alcohol intake and BMD. 

Results: Oestrogen concentration alone was different between the FAMAS cohort and analysis cohort (Wilcox sign-rank test p = 0.015).  Cross-sectionally, whole-body BMD was not associated with type or volume of alcohol consumed. Spinal BMD was inversely associated with volume of low strength beer consumption β -0.021 g/cm2 (95% CI -0.034, -0.008, p<0.001). Longitudinally, there was no association between volume or type of alcohol consumption and whole-body BMD (corrected for baseline). Change in spinal BMD was inversely associated with change in full strength beer consumption β -0.006 g/cm2 (95% CI-0.012, -0.001, p = 0.030).

Conclusion: In middle-aged to elderly men, volume or type of alcohol consumption does not appear to be associated with whole body BMD in small volumes. There appears to be a relationship between beer consumption and changes in spinal BMD compared to other forms of alcohol. Further research is required to determine the underlying cause of beer associated changes in BMD. 

  1. Papaioannou A, Kennedy CC, Cranney A, Hawker G, Brown JP, Kaiser SM, et al. Risk factors for low BMD in healthy men age 50 years or older: a systematic review. Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA. 2009;20(4):507-18.
  2. Berg KM, Kunins HV, Jackson JL, Nahvi S, Chaudhry A, Harris KA, Jr., et al. Association between alcohol consumption and both osteoporotic fracture and bone density. The American journal of medicine. 2008;121(5):406-18.
  3. Tucker KL, Jugdaohsingh R, Powell JJ, Qiao N, Hannan MT, Sripanyakorn S, et al. Effects of beer, wine, and liquor intakes on bone mineral density in older men and women. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2009;89(4):1188-96.