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. 2017 Nov-Dec;15(6):438-450.
doi: 10.1080/15402002.2016.1150279. Epub 2016 May 4.

Low-to-Moderate Alcohol Consumption is Associated With Hippocampal Volume in Fibromyalgia and Insomnia

Jeff Boissoneault  1 , Karlyn Vatthauer  2 , Andrew O'Shea  2 , Jason G Craggs  2 , Michael Robinson  1   2 , Roland Staud  1   3 , Richard B Berry  3 , William Perlstein  2 , Lori Waxenberg  2 , Christina S McCrae  1   2
Affiliations

Low-to-Moderate Alcohol Consumption is Associated With Hippocampal Volume in Fibromyalgia and Insomnia

Jeff Boissoneault et al. Behav Sleep Med. 2017 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Fibromyalgia and chronic insomnia are frequently comorbid conditions with heightened sensitivity to painful stimuli, potentially subserved by the hippocampus. Recent evidence suggests moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced fibromyalgia symptom severity. We examined the relationship among alcohol use, hippocampal morphology, fibromyalgia, and insomnia symptom severity in 41 fibromyalgia patients (19 with insomnia). A 14-day diary of sleep, pain, and alcohol consumption was followed by structural MRI. Analyses indicated greater bilateral hippocampal volume, lower clinical pain intensity, and better sleep quality in moderate drinkers versus abstainers. Underlying mechanisms may include gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) receptor agonism, n-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonism, and psychosocial factors. Further study of the relationship between alcohol use and fibromyalgia and insomnia symptom severity is warranted.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A main effect of alcohol use status was detected, such that drinkers had significantly lower pain than abstainers (F1,35 = 6.39, p = 0.02; Cohen’s d = 0.70). Error bars represent standard deviation.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
A main effect of drinking status was detected across participants, with drinkers having greater hippocampal left and right hippocampal volume than abstainers (F1,30 = 4.13, p = 0.05, ηp2 = 0.12 and F1,30 = 5.65, p = 0.02, ηp2 =0.16, respectively). Estimated marginal means adjusted for signal-to-noise ratio, total gray matter volume, BDI-II scores, and age are presented. Error bars represent standard deviation.
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