According to a new study, rheumatoid arthritis patients might feel fewer symptoms by consuming alcohol as compared to patients who do not take any amount of it.

Earlier research have also stated that people who consume alcohol are less prone to developing rheumatoid arthritis, a progressive and often disabling inflammatory disease that attacks the joints, as compared to people who are teetotalers.

But stating that the severity of symptoms can be reduced by consuming alcohol in people who are already affected by the problem is something that has been stated for the first time.

Rheumatologist and study co-author James Maxwell of England's University of Sheffield informed that a reduction of 20 to 30 per cent in pain was observed among patients who had at least 10 alcoholic beverages a month.

Maxwell added that by having alcohol in moderate amount, the risk and severity of rheumatoid arthritis, could be lessened.

He said, “Generally speaking, it appears that drinking alcohol in moderation may benefit patients with rheumatoid arthritis.”

But an arthritis specialist was not convinced with the findings at all.

Rheumatologist Nortin M. Hadler, MD, said, “But before anyone leaps to the bottle, realize that in many resource-advantaged countries this ‘moderate’ level of imbibitions is associated with higher socioeconomic status, which itself bodes well for mortality and for rheumatoid arthritis prognosis.”