A report, published by the Cancer Institute NSW in Australia has found that alcohol might be more strongly linked to cancer than previous thought.
The authors of the study reviewed the findings of 634 previous studies to determine the link between alcohol consumption and the risk of various cancers. In total cancer risk was found to be 22% higher in people who consumed four alcoholic drinks a day compared to non-drinkers and 90% higher in those who consumed eight alcoholic drinks a day. Consumption of two alcoholic drinks a day appeared to have little or no effect on cancer risk.
The researchers found conclusive evidence that moderate to heavy alcohol consumption raised the risk of breast, colo-rectal, liver, and stomach cancers as well as cancer of the upper-digestive tract. The researchers also found that no link existed between alcohol and cancers of the bladder, endometrium and pancreas.
Cancers of the upper-digestive tract which includes the mouth, esophagus, larynx, and pharynx were four times more likely in those who consumed four alcoholic drinks a day and a massive 4-6 times greater in those who consumed eight times a day compared to non-drinkers.
Breast cancer risk was found to increased by around 10% with each additional alcoholic drink consumed, this equates to around a two times greater risk of breast cancer for someone consuming an average of eight alcoholic drinks per day. Around 10% of all breast cancers are thought to be attributable to alcohol.
Stomach cancer was only slightly associated with heavy alcohol consumption with eight drinks a day raising stomach cancer risk by around 30%.
Colo-rectal cancers did not appear to be associated with alcohol in women however heavy male drinkers are between 60 and 80% more likely to develop colo-rectal cancers than non-drinkers.
The results were the opposite for liver cancer with women drinkers appearing to be at a greater risk of liver cancer than men. Heavy male drinkers were about 60% more likely to develop liver cancer while females were around nine times more likely to develop the disease compared to non-drinkers. Around 35% of all liver cancers are thought to be alcohol related.
While some evidence existed for a link between alcohol and prostate, kidney, lung, cervical, and ovarian cancers, the evidence was not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions.
Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link between alcohol and cancer. Acetaldehyde, a product of alcohol metabolism, is a known carcinogen. Alcohol is also known to increase estrogen levels which may explain the breast cancer link. Alcohol also impairs the bodies ability to absorb folate resulting in a folate deficiency in many heavy drinkers. Low folate levels are thought to increase the risk of several forms of cancer.
Cancer is an extremely common disease, and is thought to become even more so as the world population continues to age. Around 35% of women and almost half of all men will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men while breast cancer is the most common in women.
It is thought as many as a third of all cancers are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices such as not smoking, consuming five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and being physically active.
The authors of the study reviewed the findings of 634 previous studies to determine the link between alcohol consumption and the risk of various cancers. In total cancer risk was found to be 22% higher in people who consumed four alcoholic drinks a day compared to non-drinkers and 90% higher in those who consumed eight alcoholic drinks a day. Consumption of two alcoholic drinks a day appeared to have little or no effect on cancer risk.
The researchers found conclusive evidence that moderate to heavy alcohol consumption raised the risk of breast, colo-rectal, liver, and stomach cancers as well as cancer of the upper-digestive tract. The researchers also found that no link existed between alcohol and cancers of the bladder, endometrium and pancreas.
Cancers of the upper-digestive tract which includes the mouth, esophagus, larynx, and pharynx were four times more likely in those who consumed four alcoholic drinks a day and a massive 4-6 times greater in those who consumed eight times a day compared to non-drinkers.
Breast cancer risk was found to increased by around 10% with each additional alcoholic drink consumed, this equates to around a two times greater risk of breast cancer for someone consuming an average of eight alcoholic drinks per day. Around 10% of all breast cancers are thought to be attributable to alcohol.
Stomach cancer was only slightly associated with heavy alcohol consumption with eight drinks a day raising stomach cancer risk by around 30%.
Colo-rectal cancers did not appear to be associated with alcohol in women however heavy male drinkers are between 60 and 80% more likely to develop colo-rectal cancers than non-drinkers.
The results were the opposite for liver cancer with women drinkers appearing to be at a greater risk of liver cancer than men. Heavy male drinkers were about 60% more likely to develop liver cancer while females were around nine times more likely to develop the disease compared to non-drinkers. Around 35% of all liver cancers are thought to be alcohol related.
While some evidence existed for a link between alcohol and prostate, kidney, lung, cervical, and ovarian cancers, the evidence was not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions.
Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link between alcohol and cancer. Acetaldehyde, a product of alcohol metabolism, is a known carcinogen. Alcohol is also known to increase estrogen levels which may explain the breast cancer link. Alcohol also impairs the bodies ability to absorb folate resulting in a folate deficiency in many heavy drinkers. Low folate levels are thought to increase the risk of several forms of cancer.
Cancer is an extremely common disease, and is thought to become even more so as the world population continues to age. Around 35% of women and almost half of all men will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men while breast cancer is the most common in women.
It is thought as many as a third of all cancers are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices such as not smoking, consuming five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and being physically active.
- added July 24, 2008
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