Heavy drinkers put themselves at risk for frailty and muscle loss, study shows

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Research shows that high-level alcohol consumption may cause harmful effects on muscle mass as people age.

The latest research by East Anglia University on the correlation between alcohol consumption and muscle loss and frailty has shown that as alcohol use increases, so does the rate of diseases related to the weakening of the muscles, especially in later life.

The study revealed that individuals who consumed higher quantities of alcohol exhibited a notable decrease in skeletal muscle compared to their counterparts who consumed alcohol in moderation or less frequently. This finding shed light on the potentially detrimental effects of excessive alcohol intake on muscle health.

The cross-sectional analyses have been undertaken by nearly 200,000 participants from the UK biobank.

“Our results suggest that higher levels of alcohol consumption could have detrimental effects on muscle mass in middle- and older-aged men and women,” the study indicated.

The research has shown cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between alcohol consumption and measures of sarcopenic risk, muscle mass and grip strength in a large cohort of middle-aged and older-aged men and women based on data from the UK Biobank.

Sarcopenia has been defined as an age-related, involuntary loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength.

People in England aged 55 to 64 had the highest amount of drinking over the recommended limit:38% of men and 19% of women, according to the research.

“We know that losing muscle as we age leads to problems, weakness and frailty, so this suggests another reason to avoid drinking high amounts of alcohol routinely in middle and early older age,” the researcher said.