Can Moderate Drinking Can Still Increase the Risk of Cancer?
Alcohol may be suitable for social occasions but the World Health Organization state it may cause cancer. Last week the alcohol sector was accused of downplaying the link between alcohol and the increased risk of seven cancers: throat, mouth, esophagus, liver, breast, colon and rectum. A research paper in Drug and Alcohol Review discovered that "responsible drinking" information funded by the alcohol industry tends to push the message that only heavy drinking increases the risk of the cancers. However, the newspaper says the danger starts even though the risk is low. So is the recommended number of alcohol units a week -- 14 -- too large?
The alternative
Even less than 1.5 units a day -- a small glass of wine -- can boost the chance of throat, mouth, esophagus, and breast cancer (in women), based on a UK government. While the toll of excessive drinking on the pancreas and the liver is well understood, the link to cancers, particularly breast and breast, is less so. You will find more than 100 epidemiology studies demonstrating an association between prostate feeding and alcohol, the danger increasing with less than one daily glass of wine. Research at Harvard discovered that although mild to moderate drinking was not significantly associated with a heightened risk for men (unless they smoked), it did raise the risk of breast cancer for women.
Edward L Giovannucci, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health and the lead author of this report, says that the increase in risk is small. And there are health advantages from occasional drinking which make the true risk to health. He points out a study that shows that one drink per day reduces the risk of diabetes for women. "So the general effect on health for women might continue to be positive," he says. "For colorectal cancer, the risk for women and men is reduced till you reach over two drinks per day."
Additionally, there are genetic differences in metabolizing. Ethanol in drinks is broken down into acetaldehyde, which is poisonous to cells, damaging DNA and proteins. Some people have genetic variations that are effective at eliminating acetaldehyde, and they could have a greater risk of cancer.
Giovannucci claims that overall he wouldn't advocate drinking alcohol to increase your health. "However, if one likes a glass or occasionally two a day as part of a healthy diet, and doesn't smoke, I believe the heightened risk of cancer is modest," he states. "For those with a family history of colorectal or breastfeeding, I'd suggest not drinking or not exceeding one glass every day."
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