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Psoriasis risk puts downer on beer drinking
20 August 2010
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Women who drink beer regularly are more likely to develop psoriasis, according to research published this week in the Archives of Dermatology journal.
Researchers in the USA recruited a group of almost 83,000 female nurses, aged between 27 and 44, to find out if alcohol intake is associated with psoriasis. Over a period of 14 years, the researchers collected information about the women's drinking habits using a series of questionnaires.
Psoriasis is a common, inflammatory skin condition in which thick, red patches form on the surface of the skin. The researchers wanted to investigate whether the amount and type of alcohol the women drank affected their chances of developing psoriasis. They compared the effects of beer, low-alcohol beer, red wine, white wine and spirits.
At the end of the study period, a total of 1,070 women out of the 48,000 who said they drank alcohol developed psoriasis. Women who drank five or more beers per week were found to be twice as likely to develop psoriasis as those who didn't drink at all. The researchers calculated that one beer was about 360ml, which is approximately the size of a standard bottle of beer. Consumption of low-alcohol beer, red wine, white wine and sprits weren't found to increase the risk, no matter how much the women drank.
This research suggests that beer intake may be an additional risk factor for developing psoriasis, but the study isn't without its limitations.
The study findings weren't affected when the researchers took into account the women's age, body mass index (BMI), smoking habits and level of physical activity. This raised the chances that the increased risk of psoriasis was likely to be related to how much beer they drank.
The researchers suggest that certain non-alcoholic components in beer, such as gluten (which isn't found in wine or spirits), may play a role in the development of psoriasis. Gluten is also found in low-alcohol beer, but in much smaller amounts.
Commenting on the study, Dr Peter Mace, Assistant Medical Director for Bupa, said: "This research suggests that beer intake may be an additional risk factor for developing psoriasis, but the study isn't without its limitations. For example, the amount of alcohol the women drank was based on estimates and the different types of drink were recalled from memory. This may have lead to some inaccuracies, so we should look on these results with caution."
"We already know that people who have a family history of psoriasis, who are overweight, smoke, or are stressed, are more likely to develop the condition. If you're concerned you may be at risk of psoriasis, at Bupa we have health assessments that can give you a clear and comprehensive picture of your health status. We also provide a private GP service."
Key facts
- Psoriasis is an itchy skin condition in which red, scaly patches develop, most commonly on the knees, elbows and scalp.
- About two in 100 people in the UK have psoriasis. It can begin at any age and affects men and women equally.
- Most people with psoriasis have the condition for life, but it can come and go, often for no apparent reason.
- Psoriasis can be controlled with various treatments such as creams, oral medicines and light therapy, but it can't currently be cured completely.
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Quereshi A, Dominguez P, Choi H, et al. Alcohol Intake and Risk of Incident Psoriasis in US Women: A Prospective Study. Arch Neurol 2010; doi: 10.1001/archdermatol.2010.204