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Alcohol wreaks havoc on the brain, heart, lungs, muscles, gastrointestinal tract, and immune system. An increasing number of studies indicate that alcohol is linked to cancer. Despite this, people are slow to give up drinking.
As early as the 1980s, scientists suspected that alcohol consumption could cause cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown links between drinking and cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast. One study reported a connection between chronic and binge drinking and pancreatic cancer.
In 2012, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen—the agency’s strongest category, meaning there is sufficient evidence that alcohol causes cancer, according to ScienceAlert.
Recent research has suggested that even small amounts of alcohol increase cancer risk. Yet a 2019 survey found that fewer than half of American adults are aware of the cancer risk tied to drinking.
Dr. Pranoti Mandrekar, a professor of medicine at the UMass Chan Medical School, has spent years studying the biological effects of moderate and long-term alcohol consumption. She and her team have identified several mechanisms by which alcohol raises the risk of developing cancer. What have researchers discovered?
How Does Alcohol Cause Cancer?
Cancer happens when cells in the body begin to grow uncontrollably. Alcohol can contribute to tumor formation by damaging DNA and causing mutations that disrupt normal cell division and growth.
Researchers have identified several mechanisms for how alcohol contributes to cancer. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently outlined factors that include alcohol metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation, hormonal changes, and interactions with other carcinogens such as tobacco smoke.
Alcohol metabolism is the process by which the body breaks down and eliminates alcohol. When alcohol is metabolized, its first breakdown product is acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Researchers have found that certain genetic mutations can cause the body to metabolize alcohol differently, which can lead to increased acetaldehyde levels.
There is substantial evidence that alcohol prompts the body to release harmful molecules called free radicals. These molecules can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids in cells during oxidative stress.
Mandrekar’s lab has found that free radicals produced from alcohol consumption can directly affect how cells make and break down proteins. That can lead to abnormal proteins that trigger inflammation, and inflammation promotes tumor development.
Alcohol can also influence hormone levels in ways that raise cancer risk. For example, higher estrogen levels increase the risk of breast cancer. Moderate alcohol consumption can raise estrogen levels and can also be associated with increased drinking. Alcohol may heighten breast cancer risk by lowering vitamin A levels, a nutrient involved in regulating estrogen.
People who both drink and smoke face a higher risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and larynx. Alcohol facilitates the absorption of carcinogens from cigarettes and vaping products. Smoking on its own can cause inflammation and generate free radicals that damage DNA.
What Amount of Alcohol is Safe?
Many scientists say there is no safe amount of alcohol. Still, international health organizations offer limits: women should consume no more than one to two standard drinks, and men should limit themselves to two to three.
A standard drink is often defined as 25 milliliters of a 40% alcohol by volume spirit (80 proof), 100 milliliters of wine, or 200 milliliters of beer.
An individual’s genetics, lifestyle, diet, and other factors influence how much alcohol affects tumor formation.
So rethinking drinking habits can help protect health and lower the likelihood of developing cancer.
