According to the latest reports, it looks like quitting or reducing alcohol can decrease cancer risks. Check out the latest reports about the matter below.
Reducing cancer risks
It has been well-documented that alcohol consumption poses health risks. However, a recent report concludes that reducing or eliminating alcohol intake can significantly decrease the chances of developing oral and esophageal cancer.
The report was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and was compiled by nineteen medical experts across eight different countries.
They conducted an extensive review of 91 research studies and found sufficient evidence to support a reduction or elimination of alcohol from one’s diet to lower the risk of developing oral or esophageal cancer.
The panel also found limited evidence regarding alcohol intake for laryngeal and colorectal cancers.
According to the research findings, it has been determined that the risk of developing certain cancers tends to decrease with an increase in the duration of alcohol abstinence. However, the study does not provide any conclusive evidence regarding the minimum acceptable or safe amount of alcohol consumption in relation to the risk of cancer.
“These findings are not a surprise,” Dr. Misagh Karimi told The Epoch Times in an email. Dr. Karimi is a medical oncologist at the City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in Irvine, California.
“This report adds to decades of research showing a connection between alcohol consumption and cancer. While it is still an evolving area of research, we know that cutting alcohol consumption significantly reduces the risk of certain cancers.”
Studies have revealed that alcohol-related cancer is caused by acetaldehyde, a toxin that is produced by the liver during the metabolism of alcohol. Hence, the less alcohol a person consumes, the lower the amount of acetaldehyde produced by the body, and the lesser the chances of developing certain types of cancers.
“It’s important to note that all alcoholic drinks, including wine, beer, and spirits, contain ethanol and therefore have the potential to increase cancer risk. In general, the more you drink, the higher your cancer risk, and there is evidence that the amount of alcohol a person drinks over time may be the most important factor,” Dr. Karimi explains.
Because acetaldehyde is a carcinogen, Dr. Karimi notes, “It can damage DNA and potentially contribute to tumor formation and cell and liver damage, although the associations and mechanisms are not yet fully understood.”
