Navigation Links
Why binge drinking is bad for your bones
Date:10/23/2008

cohol equivalent to binge drinking for three days or to chronic alcohol abuse for four weeks. Control groups received injections of saline.

Researchers focused on genes responsible for bone health. They found that alcohol affected the amounts of RNA associated with these genes. (RNA serves as the template for making proteins, the building blocks of bones and other tissue.) 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.

"We found that the expressions of certain genes important for maintaining bone integrity are disturbed by alcohol exposure," Callaci said.

Loyola scientists and doctors are conducting extensive research on the effects of alcohol. Researchers are, for example, studying how alcohol causes memory loss and impairs the immune system.


'/>"/>

Contact: Jim Ritter
jritter@lumc.edu
708-216-2445
Loyola University Health System
Source:Eurekalert

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Alcohol binges early in pregnancy increase risk of infant oral clefts
2. Climate change could diminish drinking water more than expected
3. Drinking milk may help ease the pressure
4. Pediatricians alerted to the developmental nature of underage drinking in special journal supplement
5. Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions debuts with focus on drinking water
6. Drinking water in Gaza Strip contaminated with high levels of nitrate
7. To your health: EPA announces safe drinking water research
8. New research on structure of bones raises questions for treatment of osteoporosis
9. Ancient fish bones reveal impacts of global warming beneath the sea
10. Where and why humans made skates out of animal bones
11. Excavated Jericho bones may help Israeli-Palestinian-German team combat tuberculosis
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email: