RESEARCH - Moderate drinking may slow arthritis progression

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From Reuters Health Information

Moderate Drinking May Slow Arthritis Progression

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 25 - Some studies have suggested that

moderate drinkers have a lower risk of developing rheumatoid

arthritis, and now new findings link the habit to a slower progression

of the joint disease.

In a study that followed 2,900 adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA),

Swiss researchers found that light-to-moderate drinkers showed slower

progression of joint damage compared with non-drinkers. Heavy

drinkers, on the other hand, showed the greatest progression.

The findings, reported online March 8th in Arthritis & Rheumatism, are

based on x-ray evidence of joint damage and disease progression at a

mean follow-up of four years.

The difference seen in moderate drinkers' and non-drinkers'

progression was not substantial enough to be apparent in daily life,

according to Dr. Axel Finckh, of University Hospital of Geneva, one of

the researchers on the study.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/719281

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