14 DAY TRIAL // By carrying out a series of experiments on mice, researchers with the Loyola University Medical Center have managed to shed new light on how and why alcohol impairs bone healing.
Speaking at this year's meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Baltimore, the scientists detailed that, as part of their investigation, they exposed several rodents that had each sustained fractures to alcohol levels that were the equivalent of three times the legal limit for driving.
When compared to a control group, it was discovered that, in the case of these mice, the hard bony tissue that formed around their broken bones was less mineralized.
What's more, whatever bone they managed to grow was not as strong as it should have been.
The mice exposed to alcohol also showed signs of oxidative stress. Lastly, fewer stem cells “reported for duty” at the site of the injury in order to help with the healing process.
The researchers believe that their findings also hold true in the case of humans, and recommend that people recovering from bone fractures limit their alcohol intake, EurekAlert reports.
“Many bone fractures are alcohol-related, due to car accidents, falls, shootings, etc. In addition to contributing to bone fractures, alcohol also impairs the healing process. So add this to the list of reasons why you should not abuse alcohol,” specialist Roman Natoli said.