Moderate alcohol consumption linked to lower risk of chronic pain – new findings

People who drink a moderate amount of alcohol may be less likely to be at risk of chronic widespread pain, says research from the University of Aberdeen published in Arthritis Care & Research.
A total of 13,574 people completed a questionnaire about if they were in chronic pain, whether the discomfort was disabling, level of alcohol consumption, age, gender, smoking habits, employment status, weight and height:
– 28% reported never regularly drinking alcohol;
– 28% drank up to five units per week;
– 20% drank six to ten units a week;
– 24% exceeded 10 units a week.

In the people who had chronic widespread pain, disability was strongly linked to the level of alcohol consumption. The prevalence of disability got lower with increasing alcohol consumption up to 35 units a week. A similar relationship was found between the likelihood of chronic pain and the overall level of alcohol consumption.

“This study has demonstrated strong associations between levels of alcohol consumption and chronic widespread pain,” the authors say. “However, the available evidence does not allow us to conclude that the association is causal. The strength of the associations means that specific studies to examine this potential relationship are warranted.”

A spokesperson from Arthritis Research UK said the findings need further investigation:

“In the meantime, the message to patients should remain the same: that they should drink less if possible and, if consuming alcohol, to do so within recommended safe limits.”

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Image credit: Emiliano De Laurentiis