Reuters and WebMD (among others) are reporting the results of a study released this week at the 2007 annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), Barcelona, Spain.

The study was presented by Henrik Kallberg of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

The new study included 1,400 people diagnosed with RA and 1,700 controls, aged 18-70. The study participants answered extensive questionnaires on lifestyle factors including alcohol consumption and smoking habits.

In both study groups, the researchers examined a blood DNA marker that increases the risk of developing RA.

Overall, those who reported drinking more than three alcoholic beverages per week had a reduced risk of RA.

Those study participants who drank 10 alcoholic beverages a week received even more protection from RA than their counterparts who drank fewer alcoholic beverages.

The most common alcoholic beverage consumed was wine.

The study found that smoking, which has been shown to increase RA risk, negates some of the protective benefits of alcohol.

Other researchers found the results interesting but, of course, note that further studies need to be done (can I volunteer?) and that taking up drinking alcohol for its health benefits is a bad idea.

(via stuff in my food)