Myopathy simply means that your muscles don’t function, and so become weak and waste, and according to Jan W. Wijnia, a researcher at Slingedael Korsakoff Centre as well as corresponding author for the study, ‘Muscle weakness is by far the most frequent symptom of alcoholic myopathy, causing difficulties in rising from a chair or in climbing a staircase. In alcoholic myopathy, improvement of muscle weakness usually occurs six to nine months following alcohol abstinence.’
According to Frits A. J. Muskiet, a professor of pathophysiology and clinical chemical analysis at the University Medical Centre Groningen, ‘40-60% of alcoholics suffer from alcohol-related myopathy’ and also have low levels of vitamin D, which prompted the authors of the study to investigate the association. However, Muskiet says that ‘since these symptoms are rather a-specific, this is no more than an association, which is obviously not the same as a proven cause-and-effect relation. There are similarities, but also differences.’
Wijnia says that as previous studies did not believe a deficiency in diet could cause alcoholic muscle disease, and so their study is innovative and provides important new information as new research could prove that ‘It is possible that vitamin D supplementation may assist in prevention and treatment of alcohol-related chronic myopathy, thus, assessment of vitamin D status may help clinicians to early diagnose severe vitamin D deficiency and hence offer appropriate treatment’.
Muskiet adds ‘The paper is important because of this connection, but the real proof of the pudding should now be provided by doing research trials.’ He concludes that supplements may not be the only solution to vitamin D deficiency as ‘There is good evidence that 90% of type 2 diabetes, 80% of coronary heart disease, and 70% of colon cancer and stroke can be prevented if people pay more attention to their weight, physical activity, excessive alcohol drinking, smoking, vegetables/fruits, etc. A small daily amount of alcohol keeps the doctor away. With no alcohol and especially with too much alcohol there is higher chance of many diseases, including all cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, etc. Again, it is a matter of balance.’