Men who consume alcohol on a regular basis face a high risk of different types of cancer.
Men who consume alcohol on a regular basis face a high risk of different types of cancer.
Past 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 to find out the association between lifetime consumption of alcoholic drinks and cancer risk, researchers studied 3,571 Canadian men aged between 35 and 70 years who consumed alcoholic beverages on a daily basis.
It was found that as compared to men who drank occasionally or not at all those who drank at least a drink per day had higher risks of a number of cancers - 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 a higher cancer risk.
In general, the odds increased in tandem with the men's lifetime alcohol intake. With several cancers, men who drank at least once per day tended to have higher risk 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 percent higher risk than teetotalers and less-frequent drinkers, while daily drinkers had a three-fold higher risk.
The findings show that moderate and high alcohol intake levels over the lifetime increases cancer risk at several sites.
Past 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 to find out the association between lifetime consumption of alcoholic drinks and cancer risk, researchers studied 3,571 Canadian men aged between 35 and 70 years who consumed alcoholic beverages on a daily basis.
It was found that as compared to men who drank occasionally or not at all those who drank at least a drink per day had higher risks of a number of cancers - 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 a higher cancer risk.
In general, the odds increased in tandem with the men's lifetime alcohol intake. With several cancers, men who drank at least once per day tended to have higher risk 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 percent higher risk than teetotalers and less-frequent drinkers, while daily drinkers had a three-fold higher risk.
The findings show that moderate and high alcohol intake levels over the lifetime increases cancer risk at several sites.
COMMENT
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.
