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Association between alcohol consumption and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a meta-analysis of five observational studies

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between alcohol consumption and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Published literature on the association between alcohol consumption and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was retrieved from the PubMed and Embase databases. Two authors independently extracted the data. The quality of the identified studies was evaluated according to the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed and publication bias was assessed. Five articles, including one cohort study and seven case–control studies, and a total of 431,943 participants, were identified. The odds ratio for the association between alcohol consumption and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was 0.57 (95 % confidence interval 0.51–0.64). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses confirmed the result. Evidence for publication bias was detected. Alcohol consumption reduced the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis compared with non-drinking. Alcohol, therefore, has a potentially neuroprotective effect on the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 36 Yanfu Dong Road, Yangzhou, 225001, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Meng E, Jianrui Dou, Wu Jin, Xiang Cai, Yiyang Mao & Daojian Zhu

  2. Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Meng E & Sufang Yu

  3. Yangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yangzhou, 225001, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Rumei Yang

Authors
  1. Meng E
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  2. Sufang Yu
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  3. Jianrui Dou
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  4. Wu Jin
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  5. Xiang Cai
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  6. Yiyang Mao
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  7. Daojian Zhu
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  8. Rumei Yang
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Correspondence to Sufang Yu.

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We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence our work. There is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled.

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E, M., Yu, S., Dou, J. et al. Association between alcohol consumption and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a meta-analysis of five observational studies. Neurol Sci 37, 1203–1208 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2575-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2575-0

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