Bottoms up, ladies?

A newly published article on alcohol consumption and rheumatoid arthritis shows there may be a link between drinking alcoholic beverages and a reduced risk of R-A in women.

The study used data collected on female nurses spanning more than 20 years.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect men, but is three times more common among women, according to the Arthritis Foundation. The disease causes the immune system to attack the body. It affects about 1.5 million people in the U.S., causing painful and swollen joints and fatigue. There is no known cure.

The cause of R-A is not fully understood, either. But, there does seem to be a genetic component to it. People with a family history of R-A have a higher risk of developing the disease.

In the recent study, surveys examining participants’ food intake were conducted every four years. When researchers from Boston compared those survey results with the women’s health diagnoses, they found that those who consumed a few alcoholic beverages each week were less likely to get R-A than other women. About 21 percent less likely, that is. That’s a significant reduction in risk.

Curiously, the researchers found regular beer drinkers had an even lower chance of developing R-A. Women who drank two to four beers per week were about a third less likely to be diagnosed with the disease.

More research is needed to understand the phenomenon and whether it applies to other groups of people. The study authors say their work does not prove cause-and-effect, just an interesting link.

If alcohol poses a health risk for you or doesn’t mix with your medications, then consuming it in hopes of avoiding R-A is a bad idea. Consult your doctor if you have concerns about R-A and remember: When it comes to alcohol, moderation is always key.