Share

Daily drink ups risk for cancer

Men who drink beer or liquor on a regular basis may face a heightened risk of several different types of cancer, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among nearly 3 600 Canadian men ages 35 to 70, those who averaged at least a drink per day had higher risks of a number of cancers than men who drank occasionally or not at all -- including cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, colon, lungs, pancreas, liver and prostate.

When the researchers looked at individual types of alcohol, though, only beer and "spirits" -- and not wine -- were linked to elevated cancer risks.

In general, the odds increased in tandem with the men's lifetime alcohol intake, according to findings published in the Cancer Prevention and Detection.

With several cancers, men who drank at least once per day tended to have higher risks than those who drank on a regular, but less-than-daily, basis.

When it came to oesophageal cancer, for instance, men who drank one to six times per week had an 83% higher risk than teetotallers and less-frequent drinkers, while daily drinkers had a three-fold higher risk.

Longer you drink, higher the risk
In addition, when the researchers looked only at daily drinkers, the risks generally increased with the number of years the men had been at it.

"Our results show that the heaviest consumers over the lifetime had the biggest increases in the risks of multiple sites of cancer," said lead researcher Dr Andrea Benedetti, of McGill University in Montreal.

Many studies have suggested that moderate drinking -- usually defined as no more than a drink or two per day -- can be a healthy habit, particularly when it comes to heart disease risk.

But the current study suggests that even such moderate drinking levels are linked to higher risks of certain cancers, at least when the alcohol of choice is beer or liquor.

The question of whether moderate drinkers should cut down, however, cannot be answered by a single study, according to Benedetti.

"In terms of balancing this risk (of cancer) with risks of cardiovascular disease," she said, "people should talk with their doctor." – (Reuters Health, August 2009)

Read more:
Not only students binge drink
Alcohol kills 1 in 25

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE