Osteoporosis and alcohol consumption

[bonewarrior]

Hi All!

A quick success story and a question from my side (59 yr. old female, American living in Germany and Greece).

Two years ago my T-score lumbar was -3.4 and hip -1.3. Two years later - having refused to take bisphosphonates - the scores are lumbar -2.5 and hip -1.2. How did I do it?

Lifting weights and weight bearing exercises 2 - 3 x a week, one hour. First with a PT (VERY expensive) and now on my own with an app. Taking supplements (very many - too much vitamin D which I am now stopping for a while) and going on HRT. I think this did the trick. I will continue this path and was advised to do so not taking any other medication.

However... I was also told that having a glass of wine with dinner (not every day) or even two or three with company should be stopped. I find this difficult. Not because I feel I am an alcoholic but because I have an active social life which does include toasting with bubbles, wine with dinner or at a party.

What is your take on alcohol and osteoporosis, and where you advised the same? And yes, I already know alcohol is not good for you in any quantity, thanks ;-)!

[FiddleFern]

I have always enjoyed a drink with a meal in the evenings at weekends etc. when I was handed my diagnosis of osteoporosis probably steroid induced I started to read up and to understand that osteoporosis is a disease that may be initiated by inflammation and other conditions. So I put myself on anti inflammatory nutrition journey of which alcohol ought not to be in my diet . I have much reduced it almost down to nothing . I have had 4 small glasses of white wine since Jan 2024 . I miss it but it was easier than I thought . When I am tempted I think of possible bone fractures and future disability and that keeps me on course … was delighted to hear of your bmd improvements I too declined bisphosfanates ( don’t think)I have spelt that right lol) and opted for BI HRT … it’s early days yet . Hope the above helps .

[bonewarrior in reply to FiddleFern]

Thanks for letting me have your take on it!

[Bubba3xt in reply to bonewarrior]

Good job on turning your scores around. I too took my hip t score from -2.9 to -2.4 without drugs in two years. My doctor also told me to abstain from alcohol entirely but every two to three weeks an occasion would arise where I said "Oh, to heck with it." I love having a couple beers on our back deck with husband and neighbors after a long day of yard work.

I think because alcohol interrupts the process of bone building having as many alcohol free days as possible, where you're doing everything right, is most important.

I no longer order wine with dinner in restaurants and I don't miss that one bit. I think doctors tell you to abstain entirely because so many people have a drink every day and that certainly can't be good. If my bones are building up 28 days a month I think I can afford 2 days where it slows down. I might be wrong, but that's my take on it.

[bonewarrior in reply to Bubba3xt]

Appreciate your openness about this!

[CoachKara]

I know large of amounts of alcohol (anything more than 2 a day for female) is not good for you or your bones but I read a study years ago that mentioned a glass every couple days is actually good for the body and the bones. The study mentioned beer (for the hops) and red wine as the two that have beneficial elements within them. So who knows.

[yogalibrarian]

There are several different things in play here....

1. Alcohol increases osteoporosis risk. (Interferes with the metabolism of calcium and vitamin D and can cause hormone changes that can lead to bone loss.)

2. The big concern is fracture risk, not just bone density (osteoporosis). Fractures can be life-altering or life-ending.

3. Bone density only makes up about 50% of fracture risk. If you look at a fracture risk calculator (such as FRAX) and do the same inputs changing only alcohol consumption, you will get a much higher risk level. (I have some standard, "hypothetical person" numbers I use when testing. For that hypothetical person, the MOF (major osteoporotic fracture) risk was about 26% higher and the hip fracture risk was about 50% higher.

4. Fracture risk is made up of many factors. Some you can change and some you can't. I can't do anything about age, gender, race, medical conditions, or family fracture history. I can do something about alcohol and smoking.

5. Falls even without fractures can be associated with alcohol consumption.

6. More and more chronic diseases and cancers are being linked to alcohol.

7. So the big question is what is your personal risk tolerance? There is no level of anything that is risk-free. No number of airline miles; no number of car trips; etc. How much risk can you tolerate and for what benefit?

Personally, I love wine with dinner. But I'm now limiting it to an occasional dinner out, not a nightly part of my routine.

Most nights, I've switched to mineral water with lime. And I've found a couple of drinkable non-alcoholic sparkling wines. So I can still celebrate with bubbles.