Alcohol intake: a simple way to the CANCER KINGDOM

Alcohol has become a commodity that has gained popularity in every corner of the world. With a growing demand for alcoholic beverages, brewery companies have multiplied over the past two decades to meet demands. Alcohol is basically produced when yeasts act on sugars or starch by a process called fermentation. Alcohol is the common name for ethanol and aside beverages, it is also found in medicines, perfumes, essential oils, mouth wash and other household products. People have attributed their consumption of alcohol to religious beliefs, cultural, medical reasons, and emotional situations among others.

The question is, are people aware alcoholic beverages are considered group 1 carcinogen – a substance that has the ability to cause cancer – by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) ? I guess no. Alcohol beverage consumption has been reported to cause the following cancers: esophageal, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, colorectal, female breast and probably prostate cancer according to IARC.

There have been extensive studies across the globe that seem to provide some level of evidence to confirm the alcohol/cancer association. Boffetta Paolo has earlier recorded in a study that 3.6% of all cancer cases and 3.5% of all cancer deaths are related to alcohol intake. In 2009, ABC News 24 reported that 21,000 Australians die from alcohol-related cancer each year in Australia. The BBC news also reported in 2011 that alcohol intake leads to 1 in 10 cancers in men and 1 in 33 cancers in women. A 2011 study by Parkin D.M. and Cancer Research UK in the UK has shown 12,000 alcohol-related cancer cases per year with bowel cancer accounting for the highest.

With regards to how alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer, researchers have identified several mechanisms to explain this association. According to Cancer Research UK, alcohol when consumed is metabolized to acetaldehyde which is a known human carcinogen; acetaldehyde can cause damage to the DNA and proteins which could eventually lead to cancer. Aside alcohol metabolism in the liver, other bacteria in the mouth and gut linings could metabolize alcohol into acetaldehyde therefore increasing the risk of cancer in the mouth and gut. Alcohol metabolism could also generate free radicals such reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can damage the DNA, protein and other essential lipids. Acetaldehyde can also increase the growth of the liver cells abnormally which could pick changes in their genetic makeup and ultimately lead to cancer.

Alcohol can also influence the increased production of hormone such as oestrogen that serves as a chemical messenger to instruct the division of cells. High blood levels of oestrogen is associated with increased risk of breast cancer. During the fermentation and production process, carcinogenic substances such as phenols, nitrosamines, hydrocarbons and asbestos fibres contaminate the alcohol thereby further increasing the cancer risk.

The question that people normally ask is “what is the safe dose of alcohol one needs to consume to be healthy”? In most alcohol beverage commercials, they edge their customers to drink responsibly, however, when it comes to cancer, there is nothing like a safe dose of alcohol. This is confirmed in the 2014 World Cancer Report issued by the IARC. The risk is dose-dependent, thus, the higher the consumption of alcohol, the higher your cancer risk. In two meta-analyses conducted by Tramacere and Bagnardi – these two experts conducted separate studies, they concluded that one alcohol drink a day can increase cancer risk. In Bagnardi’s meta-analysis, it was shown that light-drinkers have a high risk of oropharyngeal cancer, oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma and female breast cancer than non-drinkers. I however, see a caveat in this study since there is a high probability that the light-drinkers could have underestimated their alcohol intake. This can affect the entire finding and not give a true reflection of the light alcohol intake/cancer risk association. Notwithstanding, there are many scientific evidence to show that cancer risk is dose-dependent.

A little amount of alcohol has be revealed to offer some level of cardiac protection for people at risk of heart diseases. However, increasing the amount of alcohol with the intention of improving health has no correlation.

Rather, you increase your risk of other health complications such as stroke, hypertension and cancer. “Moderate drinking – between 1 and 2 units a day – has been shown to offer some protection against heart disease. However, this should not be seen by people as a green light to start drinking – as there are better ways to protect your heart. Eating a sensible diet, exercising regularly and stopping smoking are all much better ways to keep your heart healthy”, said by Dr. Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director, British Heart Foundation.

Another controversy is with red wine. Many alcohol lovers hide behind the health benefits of red wine and abuse their alcohol intake. Dr. Patel K.R. of the Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, has found substances like resveratrol in red wine which possess anti-cancer properties. However, clinical trials at the Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, did not provide any evidence that resveratrol could be used in cancer treatment or prevention. Red wine abusers should have this in mind when increasing their intake of red wine thinking their improving their health.

With the increasing cancer mortality, people should make a conscious effort to abhor lifestyles that can increase their risk of cancer. The devastating effects of alcohol intake far outweigh its health benefits hence care should be taken when patronising the use of alcoholic beverages. Always have in mind that the little alcohol you consume has it corresponding cancer risk and the higher the intake, the higher the risk.