Associations of alcohol consumption with clinical and MRI measures in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

While the harmful effects of alcohol abuse are well documented, experimental and clinical data support a potential benefit of light to moderate alcohol consumption. Cross-sectional studies have suggested an association between alcohol consumption and multiple sclerosis (MS) disability. In the absence of prospective, longitudinal studies, the causal nature of this relationship cannot be established. It remains possible that patients with increased disability progression reduce their alcohol intake. Even though there is substantial evidence for anti-inflammatory effects of low-to-moderate doses of alcohol, the associations need to be interpreted very cautiously. This study discusses the current state of knowledge about MS and alcohol consumption, and the limitations in conducting research with retrospective data in patients with MS.

Keywords::

• alcohol
• disability
• environmental factors
• inflammation
• multiple sclerosis
• progression

Financial & competing interests disclosure

MB D’hooghe has served as a medical advisory board member, and received honoraria from Bayer-Schering, Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis and Allergan as part of a consultancy agreement, and has received research support from Sanofi-Aventis. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.