西班牙科学家的一项最新研究发现，经常喝啤酒的女性骨骼要更强健一些，而且患骨质疏松症的几率也较低。研究人员访问了1700名平均年龄48岁的健康女性，了解她们的饮酒习惯，并对她们的手部骨骼进行超声波扫描。结果显示，喝啤酒的女性手部骨骼更加紧密。该研究认为，啤酒中含量极高的硅元素会减缓骨质疏松的速度，并促进新骨骼的形成；另外，啤酒中丰富的植物雌激素也可以帮助保持骨骼健康。研究人员表示，硅是骨骼形成中重要的元素，而在西方饮食中，啤酒被认为是最重要的硅摄入源。

Drinking beer regularly could stop bones from going brittle¹, according to scientists in Spain.

A study found that the bones of women who drink beer regularly are stronger, making them less likely to suffer from osteoporosis.

It is thought that the high level of silicon² in beer slows down the thinning that leads to fractures and boosts the formation of new bone, the journal Nutrition reports.

Beer is also rich in phytoestrogens, plant versions of oestrogen, which keep bones healthy.

Bones are made up of a mesh³ of fibres, minerals, blood vessels⁴ and marrow⁵, and healthy ones are denser⁶ with smaller spaces between the different parts.

The researchers asked almost 1,700 healthy women with an average age of 48 about their drinking habits. They then underwent ultrasound scans of their hands, which showed the bones belonging to beer drinkers to be denser.

The women's hands were chosen because the bones in the fingers are among the first to show signs of osteoporosis, a disease of bone that leads to an increased risk of fracture.

Those who had less than a pint⁷ a day, whom scientists classed as light beer drinkers, fared just as well as those in the moderate bracket, suggesting that even small amounts can boost bone health.

The Spanish researchers said: "Silicon plays a major role in bone formation. Beer has been claimed to be one of the most important sources of silicon in the Western diet."

Three million Britons are affected⁸ by osteoporosis. It is most common in women after menopause.

Vocabulary:

osteoporosis: 骨质疏松症

phytoestrogen: 植物雌激素