TY - JOUR
T1 - Alcohol consumption in adolescence is associated with a lower risk of multiple sclerosis in a Danish cohort
AU - Andersen, Christina
AU - Søndergaard, Helle Bach
AU - Bang Oturai, Ditte
AU - Laursen, Julie Hejgaard
AU - Gustavsen, Stefan
AU - Larsen, Nanna Katrine
AU - Magyari, Melinda
AU - Just-Østergaard, Emilie
AU - Thørner, Lise Wegner
AU - Sellebjerg, Finn
AU - Ullum, Henrik
AU - Oturai, Annette Bang
PY - 2019/10
Y1 - 2019/10
N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Due to the possible existence of a vulnerable period of multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility in adolescence and because Danish teenagers have a high alcohol consumption, we investigated the association between alcohol consumption at ages 15-19 and the risk of developing MS.METHODS: A total of 1717 patients with MS and 4685 healthy blood donors filled in a comprehensive environmental and lifestyle questionnaire. Data were analysed by logistic regression models and adjusted for selected confounders.RESULTS: We found an inverse association between alcohol consumption in adolescence and risk of developing MS in both women ( p < 0.001) and men ( p = 0.012). Women with low alcohol consumption had an odds ratio (OR) of 0.56 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47-0.66) compared with non-drinking women. The ORs were similar for women with moderate (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.38-0.62) and high consumption (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.38-0.84). Men with low alcohol consumption had an OR of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.53-0.89) compared with non-drinking men but no decreased risk was found for men with moderate and high consumption.CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption in adolescence was associated with lower risk of developing MS among both sexes.
AB - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Due to the possible existence of a vulnerable period of multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility in adolescence and because Danish teenagers have a high alcohol consumption, we investigated the association between alcohol consumption at ages 15-19 and the risk of developing MS.METHODS: A total of 1717 patients with MS and 4685 healthy blood donors filled in a comprehensive environmental and lifestyle questionnaire. Data were analysed by logistic regression models and adjusted for selected confounders.RESULTS: We found an inverse association between alcohol consumption in adolescence and risk of developing MS in both women ( p < 0.001) and men ( p = 0.012). Women with low alcohol consumption had an odds ratio (OR) of 0.56 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47-0.66) compared with non-drinking women. The ORs were similar for women with moderate (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.38-0.62) and high consumption (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.38-0.84). Men with low alcohol consumption had an OR of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.53-0.89) compared with non-drinking men but no decreased risk was found for men with moderate and high consumption.CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption in adolescence was associated with lower risk of developing MS among both sexes.
KW - Adolescence
KW - alcohol
KW - epidemiology
KW - multiple sclerosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85052570049&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1352458518795418
DO - 10.1177/1352458518795418
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30124094
SN - 1352-4585
VL - 25
SP - 1572
EP - 1579
JO - Multiple sclerosis
JF - Multiple sclerosis
IS - 12
ER -