A novel study conducted recently has discovered a link between drinking alcohol and rheumatoid arthritis. It has claimed that drinking alcohol may assist in lowering the seriousness of rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, the research has also shown that alcohol consumption can help one in reducing the associated risk of falling prey to this afflicting and crippling disease.

The study, spearheaded by Gerry Wilson, Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Sheffield (Sheffield, UK), reported to involve 873 patients surviving with rheumatoid arthritis.

The study made an implicit comparison of the participants with 1,004 people forming the control group, who did not suffered from RA. The two groups were asked questions related to their drinking habits.

Also, the group participants were made to fill a detailed questionnaire along with going through x-rays, blood tests and a detailed joint examination.

“We found that patients who had drunk alcohol most frequently had symptoms that were less severe than those who had never drank alcohol or only drunk it infrequently”, concluded lead author James Maxwell, a rheumatologist at the Rotherham Foundation NHS Trust.

The study, published online in the journal Rheumatology, posted that non-drinkers suffer from a four times boosted risk of developing as RA compared to drinkers.