Shillong, June 21: Numerous studies have highlighted the negative impact of alcohol on heart and brain health. However, a recent study conducted by the University of East Anglia reveals that heavy drinking can also accelerate muscle shrinkage.
Published in the journal Springer Link, the study indicates that excessive alcohol consumption can harm skeletal muscle and heighten the risk of premature aging. The researchers took body size into account by considering factors such as protein intake and physical activity, as larger individuals tend to have more muscle mass.
The study analyzed data from the UK Biobank, a database containing anonymized lifestyle and health information from around half a million individuals in the UK. The research involved nearly 200,000 participants aged between 37 and 73 years, with the majority falling within the 50s and 60s age range.
“After considering their body sizes and other factors, we found that individuals who consumed higher amounts of alcohol had a lower quantity of skeletal muscle compared to those who consumed less,” explained Dr. Jane Skinner, a professor at Norwich Medical School.
The team observed that the issue became prominent when individuals consumed 10 or more units of alcohol per day, which is roughly equivalent to a bottle of wine or four to five pints.
Dr. Skinner added a note of caution, stating, “Since alcohol consumption and muscle mass were measured cross-sectionally—simultaneously in people—we cannot establish a definitive causal link.”
Given that muscle loss with age leads to weakness and frailty, this study provides another incentive to avoid routine high alcohol consumption during middle and older age.