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Alcohol consumption may be linked to cancer risk, according to a new study.
Researchers warn that alcohol consumption contributed to four percent of all new cancer cases worldwide last year, adding that there is an urgent need for public education there.
The study, published in the journal The Lancet Oncology, estimates that in 2020 alone there were more than 6.3 million cases of cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colon. , rectum, liver and breast. All of these cases were linked to alcohol consumption.
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More than three-quarters, or 77 percent of cases, involved heavy drinkers. However, one in seven cases was linked to moderate drinking of about two drinks per day. Of the 741,300 estimated cases, 23% were female.
Using data on alcohol sales, production, taxation and consumption, the researchers estimated the amount of alcohol consumed each day in various countries around the world. The data used was from 2010, after which ten years would have passed for the effect to be evident in possible cases of cancer.
The study found that new cases of alcohol-related cancer varied widely around the world; the highest numbers were observed in East Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, and the lowest in North Africa and West Asia.
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Mongolia, China, Moldova and Romania had the highest proportion of alcohol-related cases, while Kuwait, Libya and Saudi Arabia had the lowest.
Among the most frequent cancers were those of the esophagus (189,700 cases), liver (154,700 cases) and breast (98,300 cases).
The authors of this study point out that previous studies show that alcohol consumption has been shown to damage DNA and affect hormone production, which may contribute to the development of cancer.
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Speaking about the urgent need to raise awareness of the possible link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk, Harriet Rumgay, one of the authors, says that not only the public but policy makers must also be educated.
Various policies, such as limiting the availability of alcohol, warning labels, taxation and marketing bans, could reduce the incidence of alcohol-related cancer, according to Rumgay, who insists the that policies need to be tailored to specific regions.
(With contributions from agencies)
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