High beer intake link to psoriasis in women

The consumption of five or more glasses of beer per week is associated with an increased risk of psoriasis among women, according to study results published online by the Archives of Dermatology.

The researchers followed 116,671 female nurses aged 27–44 years between 1991 and 2005. Of these, 82,869 participants reported their intake of beer, light beer, red wine, white wine and liquor in a biennial questionnaire. Researchers then assessed the incidence of psoriasis and evaluated a correlation between alcohol intake and development of the condition. Participants with a history of psoriasis prior to 1991 were excluded from the study.

Through the 14-year study period, 1,150 cases of psoriasis developed, and 1,069 of these were used for analysis.

It was found that the risk of developing psoriasis almost doubled when associated with an intake of 2.3 alcoholic drinks per week or more. When the research team expanded its analysis to examine which type of drink raised the risk, it concluded that consumption of light beer, red wine, white wine and liquor in any quantity had no impact on the risk of developing psoriasis, but that drinking five or more beers per week was associated with the increased risk.

The increased risk was independent of other psoriasis risk factors, including age, smoking and body mass index (BMI). However, the researchers suggested that women with a high risk of developing psoriasis avoid a high level of beer consumption.

The full text of the study can be viewed for free on the website of the Archives of Dermatology.