Chronic Alcohol Abuse Saps Bones, Say Omaha Researchers

By Julie Anderson

Most everyone knows that long-term heavy drinking can damage the liver.

But fewer people know that chronic alcohol abuse also can have detrimental effects on bones.

Dennis Chakkalakal, a researcher at Omaha’s VA Medical Center, discussed the effects of alcohol on bone in a review of human, animal and cell studies published this month in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

In a healthy person, bone is constantly being torn down and replaced. But chronic and heavy drinking can disrupt that delicate balance by suppressing the formation of new bone, said Chakkalakal, also an associate professor at Creighton University.

That can result in bone loss that weakens bones, putting alcoholics at risk of fractures from falls, he said, and delayed healing of bones when they do break.

Chakkalakal and Terrence Donohue Jr., another researcher at the VA Medical Center, have studied the effects of alcohol on fracture healing since 1998. Donohue also is a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

So how much drinking does it take? The studies generally looked at alcohol consumption of 100 grams or more a day, Chakkalakal said. That amounts to roughly eight 12-ounce bottles of beer a day, nine glasses of wine or seven mixed drinks. With that level of consumption, bone loss could begin to show up as early as within three years.

He said more studies are needed on how alcohol inhibits bone formation at the molecular level and on how other factors such as smoking, age and gender come into play.

Donohue noted that studies also support the idea that people should abstain from alcohol when they have a fracture.

“If you want to have optimal healing, it would probably be done (best) without alcohol,” he said.

Tip of the week

Adapted from Activate Omaha’s Sprint Through the Holidays campaign:

Your New Year’s resolution once again calls for more regular exercise. How can you do a better job of sticking with it?

Be patient. Keep in mind that it takes 10 to 20 weeks of consistent effort to produce noticeable fitness gains.

Be focused. Mark your calendar every time you’re active. Seeing it in black and white can keep you going, or inspire you to do better. Try taping your goals to your bathroom mirror or computer screen.

Find the fun. Pick an activity you enjoy, such as biking or walking outdoors. The more you enjoy it, the more you will stick with it.

Got a health or fitness question or tip? Contact us at julie.anderson@owh.com or 444-1223.