Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol protects against the development of gallstones, UK researchers say.
Consuming two units a day cuts the chance of developing gallstones by a third, analysis of data from 25,000 men and women showed.
Gallstones are very common but symptoms and complications are only seen in three in 10 cases.
Delegates at a US conference heard that alcohol reduces cholesterol in the bile from which gallstones form.
The researchers used data from a large study set up to look at the link between diet and cancer in men and women in the 45-74 age range.
Alcohol intake was compared with the risk of developing symptomatic gallstones over a 10-year period.
Those who did develop the condition were an average of 62 years old and more than two-thirds were women.
They calculated that those in the highest alcohol group had a 32% lower risk than those who drank no or little alcohol.
For every unit of alcohol extra drunk per week, the risk of gallstones fell by 3%.
The researchers said it had been suggested that alcohol might reduce gallstones through its effects on cholesterol but the magnitude of the effect had not been calculated.
Cholesterol
Gallstones form in the gallbladder from bile and are generally made up of hardened cholesterol.
It is thought that around one in three women and one in six men get gallstones at some point in their life but they are more common in older adults.
Other factors which increase the chances of them forming include pregnancy, obesity, rapid weight loss and some medications.
Moderate alcohol below recommended limits is associated with good health Professor Chris Hawkey, British Society of Gastroenterology
Study leader Dr Paul Banim, a clinical lecturer at the University of East Anglia and a specialist registrar in gastroenterology, said alcohol was known to increase levels of "good" HDL cholesterol which was also known to be protective against cardiovascular disease and which could alter the composition of cholesterol in the bile.
He said excessive alcohol intake can cause health problems but quantifying how much alcohol reduces the risk of gallstone development allows doctors to offer specific guidance.
His colleague Dr Andrew Hart, a senior lecturer in gastroenterology, said the findings boosted their understanding of how gallstones formed.
"Once we examine all the factors related to their development in our study in the UK, including diet, exercise, body weight and alcohol intake, we can develop a precise understanding of what causes gallstones and how to prevent them."
Professor Chris Hawkey, president of the British Society of Gastroenterology, said the study was interesting but should be interpreted with caution because it only measured an association.
"Nevertheless, previous research has found similar findings and it seems likely to be a real effect.
"The University of East Anglia are producing interesting data on consumption of particular foods and alcohol - for example a recent study from that unit suggests that oily fish may protect against ulcerative colitis.
"Moderate alcohol below recommended limits is associated with good health. But alcohol is addictive and drinkers must be careful not to escalate their intake."
The findings were presented at the Digestive Disease Week annual meeting in Chicago.
They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling.Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit." (Surah Al-Baqarah:219)
SubhaanAllah! Allah subhaanahu wa ta'aala himself has told us that in the intoxicants there is some benefit but in his infinite wisdom he has made it unlawful for us for the sin of them is greater than their benefit.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, and obedience to Allâh, etc.) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masâkîn (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salât, and gives the Zakât, and keep their word whenever they make a promise, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of persecution, hardship, and war. Such are the people of the truth and they are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious).
JazakAllah Khayr. That's a good point. I have not found any benefit that can be obtained from drinking intoxicants that cannot be obtained using other methods.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
No.
But is it not haraam to handle alcohol? Someone has to make the alcohol/handle it in the first place to get Vinegar.
I'm not a scholar brother, but my understanding is the Qur'an only refers to and prohibits Khamr which is wine due to it's intoxicating effect. The two words alcohol and intoxicants are often used interchangeably but only alcohol in it's intoxicating form (Khamr) is prohibited but just alcohol as a substance in and of itself is not. I'm not a chemistry expert, but I don't think the handling of Khamr is necessary for the production of vinegar but only alcohol as a substance which does not intoxicate is used.
This is what I have understood of the issue and I could be wrong and if so I am open to correction. And Allah knows best.
Interestingly, the word that we use in English (alcohol) actually comes from an arabic word. So do other words such as Alkali and Alchemy but I digress...
Last edited by Uthman; 06-03-2009 at 10:50 AM.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
JazakAllah Khayr. That's a good point. I have not found any benefit that can be obtained from drinking intoxicants that cannot be obtained using other methods.
Well, it feels special, the way drinking vinegar doesn't.
‘Say: If the ocean were ink wherewith to write out the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted, even if We added another ocean like it.’~Al Qu'raan (18:109)
I'm not a scholar brother, but my understanding is the Qur'an only refers to and prohibits Khamr which is wine due to it's intoxicating effect. The two words alcohol and intoxicants are often used interchangeably but only alcohol in it's intoxicating form (Khamr) is prohibited but just alcohol as a substance in and of itself is not. I'm not a chemistry expert, but I don't think the handling of Khamr is necessary for the production of vinegar but only alcohol as a substance which does not intoxicate is used
I know how the ethanoic acide is made. From ethanol, so technically vinegar at some point of tis live is intoxicating, though nobody drinks it ebcause its meant to become vinegar.
Yes, natural vinegar is made from alcohol. There is no harm in doing that or working with alcohol. All scholars have said that handling ethanol and alcohol used in hospitals or using corrector fluid and other liquids that contain alcohol-based thinners or while preparing vinegar are no problem.
Additionally, I was told a story in a lecture that a Sahabi brought the prophet -pbuh- once vineger that was made from wine, and the prophet made sure it turned completely into vineger (I think smelling), and then he used it in his food. That was after Israa And Miraj when intoxicating agents were forbidden.
A gentle point though that intoxicating agents, whether fluid or otherwise, is any material that you take to cause yourself to be "high". That includes drugs whether sniffed powder, smoked doobies, or injected serums. This is based on the prophet's hadith "whatever a lot of would intoxicate you, then a little of it is haraam." None of those however is haraam if they're used in medicinal capacity under the supervision of doctor and there is no equal substitute.
And God knows best.
An interesting point is that there is a myth in that Hanafi allow the use of wine in cooking! That is not true, they however allow COOKED grape and date juice if it starts turning and it's not yet strong enough to intoxicate but may contain alcoholic agent, before it becomes full strength wine, while the other three forbid it from the moment a hint of turning begins.
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Iblis's eternal destination in the Hellfire is due to Arrogance, not Disbelief.
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