You've probably heard about the possible benefits of moderate red wine intake in reducing the risk of heart disease. According to a study in the American Journal of Medicine, people who consumed a moderate amount of alcohol (1/2 or 1 drink a day) were less likely to sustain hip fractures than those who abstained or drank heavily.

Several studies have shown that alcoholism is a risk factor for low bone density and osteoporotic fractures (in other words, fractures related to low bone density). For this study, the authors performed a systematic review and analysis of studies on alcohol use and the risk of fractures published before May 14, 2007. They found that, based on 13 studies, people who drank ½ or 1 drink per day had a lower risk of hip fracture than those who did not drink alcohol at all. People who drank more than 2 drinks a day had the highest risk of hip fracture. The authors also found limited evidence suggesting that moderate alcohol intake was associated with increased bone density.

According to the authors of the study, current best evidence suggests that, compared with abstinence, alcohol consumption of up to one drink per day is associated with a decreased risk of osteoporotic hip fracture. It also seems that moderate alcohol consumption has a beneficial effect on bone density, but additional evidence is needed to solidify this association and understand the mechanism behind it.