Eyes, Teeth, Bones

Alcohol and Age Related Macular Degeneration: The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study Am J Epidemiol 176 (4) 2012 20,963 participants aged 40-69 at baseline were examined. Alcohol consumption was determined by structured interview at baseline. Digital macular photographs were taken at baseline and follow up looking for signs of age related macular degeneration (AMD). Drinking more than 1.5 standard drinks per day (20g of alcohol) was associated with a modest 20% increase in odds of early AMD compared to those who reported no drinking at baseline, adjusted for multiple confounders. The association was found for wine, beer and spirits with no differences among men and women. The risk was almost entirely among smokers with no significant effect among non smokers who consumed any amount of alcohol. Other reports have found a reduced risk of AMD among moderate wine drinkers.

Effect of Resveratrol on the Fundus Oculi: An Overview Der Ophthalmologe January 27, 2013 (ahead of print, in German) This is a review of the studies of resveratrol in diseases of the fundus of the eye in vivo and in vitro. Many studies have done in cell culture and animal models and have shown potential for beneficial effects of resveratrol without toxicity. Anti-carcinogenic effects have been noteworthy. Further clinical studies are needed.

Amount and Type of Alcohol Consumption and Missing Teeth Among Community Dwelling Older Adults: Findings from the Copenhagen Oral Health Senior Study J of Public Health Dentistry 71 Fall 2011 Women who consumed 6 glasses of wine or more a week had a lower chance of having fewer numbers of teeth than abstainers. Women who preferred to drink wine had a lower risk of having fewer teeth than women who preferred beer or mixed preferences. There was no relationship between alcoholic beverage consumption and number of teeth for males but males who consumed more than 6 beers a week had marginally significant lower chances of having fewer teeth. Men who drank beer and women who drank wine or spirits had a lower chance of having fewer teeth than those who did not drink. It is postulated that although ethanol is damaging to teeth, other components in alcoholic beverages may be protective through lower plaque production or concentration of oral bacteria. This study had several limitations.

Moderate Alcohol Intake Lowers Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover in Postmenopausal Women Menopause September 2012 A study of women in their 50s and 60s (whose rate of bone resorption exceeds formation resulting in osteoporosis) found that moderate alcohol consumption may help prevent bone loss. The women in the study consumed 1.5 drinks per day and most were wine drinkers. The subjects were tested when they stopped drinking for 2 weeks and then again when they resumed and the byproducts of bone remodeling were determined. The alcohol seemed to slow down bone turnover rate which may protect against fractures. This study should not be extrapolated to young women who are still building bone mass.

Alcohol and Bone: Review of Dose Effects and Mechanisms Osteoporosis Int 23 January 2012 A review from France reported that light drinking may improve bone density. The International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research commented that there is little concrete evidence offered to support this finding in this study, but current research indicates that bone mineral density and the risk of fractures are favorably affected by lightto- moderate drinking, but adversely affected by heavy drinking and alcoholism.