Alcohol and Musculoskeletal Health
If you have ever broken or fractured a bone, you know how painful it can be. You know, too, that it can take a long time to heal. One thing you may not be aware of, however, is that alcohol can affect the rate at which broken bones heal.
A new study completed in 2013 by scientists at Loyola University Medical Center shows why alcohol can adversely affect bone healing. Researchers discovered that excessive alcohol can stop a key protein from enlisting the help of stem cells required to form the cartilage needed for bone repair. Normally, without the alcohol overload, fracture sites are flooded with cartilage to strengthen the bone and to help it heal. Mice given excessive alcohol showed: Read more