Binge drinking bad for bone genes

CHICAGO, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Medical researchers in Chicago say binge drinking can decrease bone mass and strength because alcohol affects bone health genes.

In animal studies, the Loyola University researchers found alcohol affects the amounts of RNA -- protein making templates -- associated with bone health genes.

"We found that the expressions of certain genes important for maintaining bone integrity are disturbed by alcohol exposure," study co-author John Callaci says in a statement.

With some genes, alcohol increased the amount of RNA. With other genes, alcohol decreased the RNA. Changing the amounts of RNA disrupted two molecular pathways responsible for normal bone metabolism and maintenance of bone mass. These pathways are called the Wnt signaling pathway and the Intergrin signaling pathway

The study comparing rats injected with alcohol to controls receiving saline may help in developing drugs to not only minimize bone loss in alcohol abusers, but to help people who don't abuse alcohol, but are at risk for osteoporosis, Callaci says.

"Of course, the best way to prevent alcohol-induced bone loss is to not drink or to drink moderately," Callaci says. "But when prevention doesn't work, we need other strategies to limit the damage."

The findings are published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.