Chandigarh, India
"Even if one drinks 30 to 60 ml of alcohol every day, his stomach fails to absorb calcium adequately. Alcohol interferes with the pancreas and its absorption of calcium and Vitamin D. It also affects the liver. The hormones important to bone health also go awry"
The heavy use of alcohol, especially during adolescence and young adult years, can dramatically affect bone health and increase the risk of osteoporosis.
When you drink too much, even 60 to 30 ml of alcohol every day, the stomach does not absorb calcium adequately. Alcohol interferes with the pancreas and its absorption of calcium and Vitamin D. Alcohol also affects the liver, which is important for activating Vitamin D, which is important for calcium absorption.
The hormones important to bone health also go awry. This was shared by a city–based expert on bones.
Alcohol has multiple effects on calcium, said Dr Harinder Batth, a city–based orthopedician. The bones deteriorate because not enough calcium is getting into bones and the body is leaching it away from bones, he points out.
To compound the problem, nutritional deficiencies from heavy drinking can lead to peripheral neuropathy nerve damage to hands and feet, asserts Dr Batth.
"The chronic alcohol abuse can affect balance, which can lead to falls. Heavy drinkers are more likely to suffer frequent fractures due to brittle bones and nerve damage, especially hip and spine fractures. Those fractures will likely heal slowly because of malnutrition. If you’re a smoker, it’s important that you quit that habit, too." If you are a heavy drinker who also smokes, it makes your bone problems even worse. You need to quit both habits, or osteoporosis treatment is not going to work, adds Dr Batth.
When you quit drinking, your bones may recover quite rapidly.
Some studies have found that lost bone can be partially restored when alcohol abuse ends. So, drink less for strong bones.
Source:Indian Express
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