Why Heavy Drinking Can Contribute to Bone Disease

Why Heavy Drinking Can Contribute to Bone Disease Addiction Alcohol Use Print Why Long-Term Heavy Drinking Can Contribute to Bone Disease By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 10, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 13, 2019 Dean Mitchell / Getty Images More in Addiction Alcohol Use Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Of all of the effects of long-term heavy alcohol consumption, probably the least known is how heavy drinking can affect bone mass in the body. Research has shown that chronic and heavy alcohol consumption can contribute to decreased bone formation, increased fracture and delays in the healing of fractures, but little research has been done on alcohols effect on new bone development. The development and function of osteoblasts, new bone cells, are at particular risk of alcohols detrimental effects, which can lead to decreasing bone formation and low bone mass. Researchers at the Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center found that chronic and heavy drinking can inhibit the formation of osteoblasts. How Alcohol Affects Bone Remodeling The maintenance of healthy bone in human adults occurs through a process called bone remodeling, said Dennis A. Chakkalakal, a  research scientist at the Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center, associate professor in the department of surgery at Creighton University, and sole author of the review. At any given time during adult life, and in various parts of the skeleton, small portions of the old bone are removed by cells called osteoclasts, and new bone is formed by cells called osteoblasts. In a healthy person, the two activities are in balance so that there is no net loss of bone. However, Chakkalakal reported that chronic and heavy drinking can disrupt the balance by suppressing new bone formation. The empty space created by normal bone-removing activity is inadequately filled by newly formed bone, said Chakkalakal. This process continues at other skeletal sites during the next remodeling cycle. The cumulative effect of this process during several remodeling cycles is manifested as a measurable bone loss over a period of just a few years. Link Between Heavy Drinking and Increased Fracture Risk Key highlights of the Omaha study include: Alcohol-induced bone disease refers to two consequences of chronic alcohol abuse: bone loss (also known as osteopenia), which results in increased fracture risk; and deficient bone repair.Alcohol-induced osteopenia is distinct from post-menopausal osteoporosis and disuse osteoporosis.Human, animal and cell-culture studies show that alcohols toxic effects on osteoblast activity are dose-dependent.Alcohol can suppress the synthesis of an ossifiable matrix, which interferes with fracture healing.The alcohol-induced bone loss is associated with abnormalities of cell dynamics in bone marrow. How Alcohol Affects Osteoblast Activity Collectively speaking, evidence indicates there is a common thread that ties together skeletal abnormalities, such as bone loss and deficient bone healing, and chronic consumption of excessive alcohol, Chakkalakal said. In both cases, alcohol adversely affects osteoblast activity, thus suppressing new bone formation needed in both normal bone remodeling and fracture healing, he said. We need future studies that focus on molecular mechanisms by which alcohol inhibits osteoblast activity. We also need a closer examination of the effects of other factors such as malnutrition, smoking and lack of physical activity as there are very few studies that evaluate the effects of these factors. Finally, we need more definitive, well-designed studies to sort out the age- and gender-related differences in the effects of moderate and excessive consumption of alcohol, Chakkalakal said. Why Abstinence Is the Best for People With Fractures The review underscores the importance of abstinence from alcohol consumption by patients â€" alcoholics or teetotalers â€" with fractures and who may want to drink during their convalescence, said VA Research Career Scientist Terrence M. Donohue, Jr.