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Alcohol
Calcium is important for many functions in the body, where it serves as a key nutrient in the maintenance of bone density. More than 99 percent of the body's calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1 percent is found in the blood. Blood levels of calcium depend upon how much of this nutrient is consumed in the diet, how well the nutrient is absorbed, and how much of it is excreted. Calcium balance is regulated by many factors, including parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D.
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Alcohol can disrupt calcium balance in many ways. To begin with, alcohol exposure increases PTH levels. In cases of chronic alcohol abuse, blood levels of parathyroid hormone can remain elevated, resulting in a strain on the body's calcium reserves. In alcoholics, continuous elevations in parathyroid hormone can precipitate the condition known as secondary hyperparathyroidism, the effects of which further deplete calcium stores.
Alcohol can inhibit the production of enzymes found in the liver and kidney that convert the inactive form of vitamin D to its active form. This interference in vitamin D metabolism results in an impairment of calcium absorption. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, a bone condition associated with pain, fractures, and deformity. Alcohol also increases magnesium excretion, an effect that can further negatively impact bone health.
But while the toxic effects of alcohol abuse are well established, moderate alcohol consumption may actually have a modest favorable effect on bone density in post-menopausal women. This effect may be explained by the fact that after menopause, alcohol enhances the conversion of testosterone into estradiol. Moderate alcohol intake may also be beneficial because of its ability to increase calcitonin, a thyroid hormone that inhibits bone resorption. (Note: More than two drinks a day, or 14 grams a day, is considered to be excessive intake and a risk factor for osteoporosis.) On the other hand, there is no evidence to suggest that moderate alcohol intake is beneficial to bone density in pre-menopausal women or in men.
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