Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Both Osteoporotic Fracture and Bone Density

Article Outline

• Abstract
• Materials and Methods
  • Search Strategies
  • Study Selection
  • Assessment of Study Quality
  • Data Extraction
  • Data Synthesis
• Results
  • Overview of the Evidence Base
  • Alcohol Consumption and Hip Fracture Risk
  • Alcohol Consumption and Fracture of the Forearm, Wrist, or Vertebrae
  • Alcohol Consumption and Bone Density
  • Alcohol Consumption and Bone Density Loss Over Time
    • Bone Density Loss Over Time in Women
    • Bone Density Loss Over Time in Men
  • Alcohol Consumption and Bone Response to Estrogen Replacement
  • Alcohol Consumption and Markers of Bone Remodeling
    • Markers of Bone Formation
    • Markers of Bone Resorption
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgments
• Appendix
• References
• Copyright

Abstract 

Objective

Alcoholism is a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures and low bone density, but the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on bone are unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the associations between alcohol consumption and osteoporotic fractures, bone density and bone density loss over time, bone response to estrogen replacement, and bone remodeling.

Methods

MEDLINE, Current Contents, PsychINFO, and Cochrane Libraries were searched for studies published before May 14, 2007. We assessed quality using the internal validity criteria of the US Preventive Services Task Force.

Results

We pooled effect sizes for 2 specific outcomes (hip fracture and bone density) and synthesized data qualitatively for 4 outcomes (non-hip fracture, bone density loss over time, bone response to estrogen replacement, and bone remodeling). Compared with abstainers, persons consuming from more than 0.5 to 1.0 drinks per day had lower hip fracture risk (relative risk=0.80 [95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.91]), and persons consuming more than 2 drinks per day had higher risk (relative risk=1.39 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.79]). A linear relationship existed between femoral neck bone density and alcohol consumption. Because studies often combined moderate and heavier drinkers in a single category, we could not assess relative associations between alcohol consumption and bone density in moderate compared with heavy drinkers.

Conclusion

Compared with abstainers and heavier drinkers, persons who consume 0.5 to 1.0 drink per day have a lower risk of hip fracture. Although available evidence suggests a favorable effect of alcohol consumption on bone density, a precise range of beneficial alcohol consumption cannot be determined.

Keywords: Alcohol, Bone mineral density, Hip fracture, Meta-analysis, Osteoporosis

The prevalence of low bone density among men and women aged more than 50 years has been estimated at greater than 44 million.¹ In this population, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men develop osteoporotic fractures.² In addition to unmodifiable risk factors such as age and sex, bone density is influenced by modifiable lifestyle factors, including alcohol consumption.

Chronic heavy alcohol consumption is widely considered a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures and low bone density.² However, this relationship is based on small studies of men³, ⁴, ⁵, ⁶, ⁷ and has not been established in women.⁸ In contrast, several studies have reported that moderate alcohol use may decrease fracture rates and increase bone density.⁹, ¹⁰, ¹¹, ¹², ¹³, ¹⁴, ¹⁵, ¹⁶, ¹⁷, ¹⁸ In 2001, a National Institutes of Health panel concluded that “alcoholism” is a cause of osteoporosis but that “consumption of alcoholic beverages” has an inconsistent effect on bone.¹⁹

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the associations between alcohol consumption and osteoporotic hip and non-hip fractures, bone density and bone density loss over time, bone response to estrogen replacement, and bone remodeling. Our secondary aim was to examine whether the effect of alcohol on these outcomes is modified by sex.

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Materials and Methods 

Search Strategies 

On May 14, 2007, we searched all Ovid MEDLINE databases, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Current Contents Connect, and PsychINFO. We defined search terms for alcohol consumption and each outcome (Appendix), and limited the results to human subjects and English language. We then manually searched references of included studies and pertinent reviews.

Study Selection 

Two reviewers independently assessed each citation using predefined criteria. Included studies had experimental, cohort, or case-control designs; included adults both exposed and not exposed to alcohol; and reported on at least 1 outcome. We excluded studies in which alcohol consumption and bone density were measured once at the same point in time to avoid invalid assumptions about temporal sequence. To examine osteoporotic fracture rate, we identified studies of low-impact fractures of the hip, wrist, forearm, or vertebra. To evaluate bone density, we sought prospective studies in which bone density was assessed by central dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and measured after alcohol exposure. Studies examining bone density loss over time required bone density measures at 2 points in time. To examine the outcome of bone response to estrogen, we identified studies reporting the effect of alcohol on osteoporotic fracture rates or bone density among postmenopausal women taking estrogen replacement therapy. For the final outcome, bone remodeling, we included studies examining markers of bone formation and resorption (Appendix). Abstract ratings between reviewers had 92% agreement (κ=0.73). Disagreements were resolved by discussion.

Assessment of Study Quality 

We assessed study quality using the internal validity criteria of the US Preventive Services Task Force,²⁰ assigning a rating of “good” when all criteria were met, “fair” when 1 or more criterion was partially met and the study contained no fatal flaws, and “poor” if 1 or more criterion was not met and a fatal flaw invalidated the results. Studies of poor quality were excluded.

For our systematic review, studies were rated “good” if alcohol consumption was reported as a rate (eg, “drinks per day”) and reflected data from more than a single survey item (ie, from separate questions about consumption of beer, wine, or spirits). Studies that used a single survey item, or did not sufficiently explain their measures, were rated “fair.” Studies that used imprecise definitions of alcohol consumption (eg, “ever,” “daily,” or “yes”) were rated “poor.” In addition, we rated studies on the timing of their measurement of alcohol consumption. Prospective studies were rated “good” if alcohol consumption was measured at multiple time points and “fair” if alcohol consumption was measured at baseline only.

Prospective studies were rated “good” if fractures were ascertained by more than 1 source of information (eg, self-report verified by hospital records or a sample of specific International Classification of Diseases codes validated by chart review) and “fair” if only 1 information source was used. Case-control studies were rated “good” if cases were established using hospital records and “fair” if they were established by other means.

For all studies, we developed a predefined set of potential confounders that included age, body mass index, smoking, dietary calcium, physical activity, and estrogen exposure. “Good” studies adjusted for all potential confounders, “fair” studies adjusted for some confounders, and “poor” studies adjusted for age only. Differences were discussed until agreement was reached. Quality ratings between reviewers had 85% agreement (κ=0.67).

Data Extraction 

The first author (KMB) and 1 other author met to extract quantitative data on the association between alcohol consumption and the outcome, and adjustment for potential confounders. For example, data extracted may include the odds of hip fracture among those who consumed more than 0.4 drinks per day compared with abstainers (odds ratio=0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-0.90), after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, and estrogen therapy.²¹ One investigator was contacted by the first author to request numeric data that corresponded to a figure in the original study.²² Because studies reported alcohol consumption using numerous units of measurement, we converted alcohol consumption into drinks per day by estimating that each standard drink is equivalent to 14 g or 0.6 fluid oz of pure alcohol,²³ that there are 29 kJ/g of alcohol,²⁴ and that 1 unit of alcohol equals 8 g of pure alcohol.²⁵

Data Synthesis 

For pooled estimates of the effect of alcohol consumption on hip fracture incidence, we extracted relative risk (RR) data, created strata of alcohol use, and performed a dose-response analysis using mean drinks per day when studies reported ranges of alcohol consumption. For the few studies that reported multiple categories of alcohol consumption within 1 defined strata, we “pooled first” using inverse variance weights. Given the rarity of events, RRs and odds ratios for hip fractures were considered equivalent. We combined fracture data by log transforming reported effects in each stratum and then pooled data with the random effects models.²⁶ Sex-stratification of the analysis of alcohol consumption and hip fracture was not possible because only 1 study reported results by sex.

For bone density, we pooled data using a dose-response regression model with adjustment for clustering within studies using inverse variance as analytic weights.²⁷ When necessary, we imputed variance using the method of Follman et al.²⁸ For each outcome, when no upper limit was given for the highest category of alcohol consumption, we multiplied the reported limit by 1.5, a method used in a similar meta-analysis.²⁹ We were unable to perform a meta-analysis of bone density loss over time because of the disparate outcomes reported (eg, beta-coefficient for the effect of alcohol on bone density loss, annual rate of bone density loss, or percentage of bone density loss). The results were not significantly different for men and women for any outcome except bone density loss over time.

Heterogeneity was assessed using the Q and I² statistics. Publication bias was assessed using the method of Egger et al.³⁰ All meta-analyses were performed using STATA (STATA 9.2, College Station, Tex).

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Results 

Overview of the Evidence Base 

The results of our search strategy are illustrated in Figure 1. Most studies were conducted in white, European, or American adults aged more than 50 years. The results were commonly adjusted for age, body mass index, and smoking. However, few studies adjusted for dietary calcium, physical activity, or estrogen exposure.

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• Figure 1. 

  Study selection process. Studies may be excluded for multiple reasons.

Alcohol Consumption and Hip Fracture Risk 

Eight of 13 studies that examined the association between alcohol consumption and risk of hip fracture were prospective cohort studies,³³, ³⁴, ³⁵, ³⁶, ³⁷, ³⁸, ³⁹, ⁴⁰ and 5 were case-control studies²¹, ³¹, ³², ⁴¹, ⁴² (Table 1). The case-control studies compared hospitalized cases with community controls,²¹, ³², ⁴¹ hospitalized controls,⁴² or both.³¹ Cases and controls were matched on age, sex, race or ethnicity, and residential area,³¹, ³² or geographic location only.²¹, ⁴¹, ⁴²

Table 1. Studies of the Association between Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Hip Fracture

Meta-analysis of the effect of alcohol consumption on hip fracture risk revealed a J-shaped relationship, which is illustrated in Figure 2. Compared with abstainers, we found a lower risk of hip fracture among persons consuming up to 0.5 drinks per day (RR=0.84 [95% CI, 0.70-1.01] Q=091, I²=0.00, publication bias P=.39) and persons consuming from more than 0.5 to 1 drink per day (RR=0.80 [95% CI, 0.71-0.91] Q=12.66, I²=0.21, publication bias P=.43). Those consuming from more than 1 to 2 drinks per day did not differ from abstainers (RR=0.91 [95% CI, 0.76-1.09] Q=11.33, I²=0.24, publication bias P=.72), and persons consuming more than 2 drinks per day had a higher risk of hip fracture (RR=1.39 [95% CI, 1.08-1.79] Q=6.73, I²=0.24, publication bias P=.38).

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• Figure 2. 

  Association between alcohol consumption and hip fracture risk. Reference exposure is zero drinks per day. Size of data marker represents sample size. Horizontal lines denote 95% confidence intervals.

Alcohol Consumption and Fracture of the Forearm, Wrist, or Vertebrae 

Of the 3 cohort studies that examined the effect of alcohol consumption on fracture of the forearm or wrist, 2 found no significant association⁴⁰, ⁴³ and 1 found that women consuming 1.8 drinks or more per day had a higher risk of wrist fracture compared with abstainers (RR 1.38 [95% CI, 1.09-1.74]).³⁹ Two studies examined the relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of vertebral fracture; 1 found no significant association,⁴⁰ and 1 found increased odds of fracture among men who consumed more than 0.3 drinks per day compared with abstainers (adjusted odds ratio 4.61 [1.19-17.90]).⁴⁴

Alcohol Consumption and Bone Density 

Four cohort studies assessed the association between alcohol consumption and bone density (Table 2).¹², ¹³, ¹⁶, ³³ Overall, there was a linear relationship between femoral neck bone density and alcohol consumption (Figure 3). Each drink per day was associated with an increase in femoral neck bone density of 0.045g/cm² (95% CI, 0.008-0.082 g/cm², P=.01). A significant linear relationship also was found at the vertebral spine (data not shown).

Table 2. Studies of the Association between Alcohol Consumption and Bone Mineral Density

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• Figure 3. 

  Association between alcohol consumption and adjusted femoral neck bone mineral density. Adjustment for confounders is variable. Study adjusting for the fewest covariates controlled for age, smoking, weight, and height. Study adjusting for the most covariates also controlled for leisure time physical activity, difficulty arising from a bed or chair, estrogen therapy, thiazide-type diuretics, thyroid agents, race, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, visual problems, arthritis, previous cancer, weight in early teens, and Mini-Mental Status Exam score.

Alcohol Consumption and Bone Density Loss Over Time 

Four prospective cohort studies²², ⁴⁶, ⁴⁷, ⁴⁸ and 1 nested case-control study⁴⁵ examined the association between alcohol consumption and bone density loss over time (Table 3).⁴⁴, ⁴⁵, ⁴⁶, ⁴⁷, ⁴⁸ Two of the 3 studies that reported sex-stratified results found that the pattern of association between alcohol consumption and bone density loss was different in men and women.⁴⁶, ⁴⁷

Table 3. Studies of the Association between Alcohol Consumption and Bone Mineral Density Loss Over Time

Four of the 5 studies that examined alcohol consumption and bone density loss over time in women found that women with greater alcohol consumption had lower bone density loss.²¹, ⁴⁵, ⁴⁶, ⁴⁷, ⁴⁸ Of the 5 studies, 2 studies measured alcohol consumption continuously and found a significant inverse linear association between alcohol consumption and bone density loss.⁴⁵, ⁴⁶ Two other studies measured alcohol consumption categorically and found the lowest bone density loss among women with the greatest alcohol consumption (approximately 1-2 drinks per day).²², ⁴⁷ The final study found a U-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and bone density loss, with the lowest bone density loss among women consuming 0.2 to 1.7 drinks per day and higher bone density loss among both abstainers and women consuming more than 1.7 drinks per day.⁴⁸

Of the 3 studies that assessed alcohol consumption and bone density loss over time in men, 2 reported U-shaped relationships.⁴⁷, ⁴⁸ The lowest bone density loss was among men in the middle drinking categories (between 0.7 and either 1.4 or 1.7 drinks per day), and higher bone density loss was among men with either little or no alcohol consumption and men with the greatest alcohol consumption (at least 1.4 or 1.7 drinks per day). The third study found no linear relationship between continuous alcohol consumption and bone density loss in men.⁴⁶

Alcohol Consumption and Bone Response to Estrogen Replacement 

Two studies assessed the effect of alcohol consumption on bone response to estrogen therapy. One prospective cohort study found that estrogen therapy was independently associated with a 74% lower risk of hip fracture (RR 0.36 [95% CI, 0.14-0.90]) among women who consumed 1 drink or more per day, compared with abstainers.⁴⁹ The other was a nested case-control study that defined cases (“good” responders) as women who gained more bone density during 5 years of follow-up than the upper 95th percentile of an untreated group.⁴⁵ After adjustment for multiple potential confounders, alcohol intake was independently associated with being a “good” responder to estrogen therapy.

Alcohol Consumption and Markers of Bone Remodeling 

Osteocalcin, a vitamin K-dependent protein synthesized by osteoblasts, is widely used as a clinical marker of bone formation. In 6 experimental studies of heavy drinkers (7-16 drinks per day), the subjects served as their own controls. Osteocalcin levels were measured before and after periods of abstinence ranging from 7 days to 2 years.⁸, ⁵⁰, ⁵¹, ⁵², ⁵³, ⁵⁴ All studies found that osteocalcin increased significantly after abstinence.

Two additional experimental studies found consistent results after administering alcohol to healthy male adults.⁵⁵, ⁵⁶ The doses of alcohol varied from 1.8 drinks given over 45 minutes⁵⁵ to 4 drinks administered daily for 3 weeks.⁵⁶ Both studies found a significant decrease in osteocalcin levels during alcohol administration.

Three of the abstinence studies also examined changes in carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen,⁸, ⁵², ⁵⁴ a protein representing synthesis of type-1 collagen. All found a significant increase in carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen during abstinence.

Hydroxyproline, a modified amino acid that is released during the breakdown of collagen, was measured in 3 studies of heavy drinkers. During abstinence from alcohol, 1 study found a significant increase in urinary hydroxyproline,⁵⁴ and 2 studies found no significant change.⁸, ⁵³

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Discussion 

Our analysis demonstrates a J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and hip fracture risk, with persons consuming up to 1 drink per day having the lowest risk of hip fracture. In contrast, most data on alcohol consumption and bone density suggest a linear association between greater alcohol consumption and both higher bone density and lower bone density loss over time. Studies evaluating hip fracture risk included subjects with greater alcohol consumption than studies evaluating bone density, which may explain why the association between alcohol consumption and hip fracture was J-shaped rather than linear. Because studies of alcohol consumption and bone density included few heavier drinkers, current evidence is insufficient to determine a precise amount of alcohol consumption that is associated with higher bone density.

Compared with abstainers, moderate drinkers had lower hip fracture risk and heavier drinkers had higher hip fracture risk. However, important biases may have influenced these results. It is likely that falls contributed to the observed increase in hip fracture risk among heavier drinkers. Further, most categories of nondrinkers included both lifetime abstainers and former drinkers. If former drinkers stopped for health reasons, this may partially explain the higher hip fracture risk among nondrinkers.

In contrast with the J-shaped association between alcohol consumption and hip fracture risk, pooled data suggest a linear relationship between alcohol consumption and bone density. These data were derived from studies mainly of individuals consuming less than 2 drinks per day. Because these studies may have been underpowered to demonstrate changes in bone density at greater alcohol consumption levels, the observed linear association may not fully describe this relationship. In addition, the increase in bone density associated with each additional drink per day was small in magnitude and of uncertain clinical significance.

The exact mechanism by which alcohol influences bone density is not clear. Putative biological mechanisms for a beneficial effect of alcohol on bone density include increases in the concentration of serum estradiol⁵⁷, ⁵⁸ and liver estrogen receptors.⁵⁹ However, as has been suggested regarding other beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption, the observed benefit may reflect confounding by unmeasured healthy behaviors.⁶⁰, ⁶¹ An important limitation of the existing literature, and the reason most studies were rated “fair,” is that few studies sufficiently adjusted for major potential confounders, and none included markers of socioeconomic status. Although our finding that alcohol consumption augments the benefits of estrogen therapy is based on a small number of studies, it is consistent with research suggesting that alcohol ingestion leads to elevations in circulating estradiol levels in women taking estrogen replacement therapy.⁶², ⁶³, ⁶⁴ Because of this association, studies that did not control for estrogen exposure may be particularly vulnerable to bias.

Most studies of bone density loss in women demonstrated an inverse linear relationship between alcohol consumption and bone density loss over time, whereas most studies in men reported a J-shaped relationship. Although sex differences in the effect of alcohol consumption on bone density have been suggested,⁶⁵ observed differences might be explained by differences in alcohol exposure. Studies of bone density loss over time frequently combined moderate and heavy drinkers in a single category, making the greatest drinking category heterogeneous. For example, if the population of women categorized as consuming more than 1.4 drinks per day consumed less alcohol than men in the same drinking category, data from men and women would suggest different patterns of association between alcohol consumption and bone density due partly to misclassification. Further research is needed to characterize sex differences in the effect of alcohol on bone density loss over time.

Data from experimental studies indicate that osteocalcin increases after abstinence and decreases after alcohol administration. These results suggest a reversible suppression of bone formation when administered rapidly or in large doses, and are consistent with prior research.⁶⁶, ⁶⁷ The effect of long-term alcohol consumption on bone remodeling likely involves a complex uncoupling of formation and resorption.⁶⁸ Heavy alcohol consumption may have a direct acute negative effect on osteoblasts, but positive effects of alcohol on bone density may be due to indirect long-term hormonal effects.⁶⁹ The precise effects of moderate alcohol consumption on bone metabolism are still unknown.

A key limitation of many original studies in this review was the method and timing of alcohol consumption measurement, a weakness that has been noted by other reviews and meta-analyses of alcohol consumption.²⁹, ⁷⁰, ⁷¹ Studies that measured alcohol consumption only at baseline are vulnerable to misclassification if exposure to alcohol changed before the outcome was measured. In addition, collecting data on alcohol consumption by self-report using simple surveys may lead to underreporting, particularly among heavy drinkers.⁷², ⁷³ Despite this potential reporting bias, the rank order of alcohol consumption reported by individual studies is unlikely to be affected.

Because most included studies were observational, these results must be interpreted with caution. Although many benefits, including decreased mortality,⁷⁴ have been attributed to moderate alcohol consumption, the appropriateness of using nondrinkers as a reference group has been questioned.⁷⁵, ⁷⁶ To expand our understanding of the effects of alcohol on bone density, rigorous prospective studies are needed that carefully measure potential confounders. Because bone density reflects the cumulative effects of numerous factors on bone metabolism over long periods of time, future studies should adjust for baseline bone density.

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Conclusions 

Current best evidence on the effect of alcohol on bone density suggests that compared with abstinence, consumption of up to 1 drink per day is associated with a decreased risk of osteoporotic hip fracture. Further, most evidence supports a beneficial effect of moderate alcohol consumption on bone density. However, evidence is insufficient to determine relative associations between alcohol consumption and bone density in moderate compared with heavy drinkers.

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Acknowledgments 

The authors thank Racheline G. Habousha, MSLS, AHIP, for assistance with the literature search and David Hamerman, MD, for guidance with article selection criteria.

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Appendix 

Appendix. Medical Subject Headings and Text Words Used in Literature Search

BMD, Bone mineral density; BGP, beta-glycerophosphatase; TRACP, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase.

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