A Toast to Bone Health?

Cheers ladies, a bit of moderate drinking may be good for your bones.

A small study, just published in the Journal of the North American Menopause Society, followed 40 healthy post-menopausal women who regularly drank one to two alcoholic beverages per day, did not use hormone replacement therapy and had no history of breaks due to brittle bones.

The participants were asked to abstain from drinking for two weeks-.and had DEXA scans to measure bone density and blood tests to track bone formation markers at the beginning and at the end.

The researchers found evidence of increased bone turnover a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures Ð during the two-week period when the participants stopped drinking.

Even more surprising: when the women resumed their normal drinking, their bone turnover rates returned to previous levels.

While excessive drinking is never advised, the researchers say their findings lend support to the idea that having a glass of wine or beer regularly may help slow bone loss.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading , health news that matters to you.