Moderate beer intake does not show a protective effect against bone loss in early post-menopausal women.
In a 2-year controlled clinical intervention study, 31 postmenopausal women were divided into three groups: 15 consumed beer with alcohol daily, 6 consumed non-alcoholic beer daily, and 10 refrained from consuming any alcohol, non-alcoholic beer, and hop-related products. All participants underwent baseline and follow-up assessments, wherein plasma and urine samples were collected for biochemical testing, and data about their medical history, diet, and exercise habits were also gathered. The comprehensive, detailed examination involved the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to determine bone mineral density and trabecular bone score. Furthermore, yearly determinations of bone formation and bone resorption markers were made.
The study showed that the markers of bone formation had indeed increased in the groups consuming beer with alcohol and non-alcoholic beer compared to the control group over the course of 2 years. However, there were no significant changes noted in the bone mineral density and trabecular bone score among the three groups throughout the study period. These findings contradict the hypothesis that moderate beer consumption could have protective effects against bone loss in early post-menopausal women.
