New report describes close link between alcohol and cancer

18 0

The story at a glance

The 2024 report from the American Association for Cancer Research shows a significant link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. 5.4% of cancer cases in the US in 2019 were caused by alcohol – and that is probably still an underestimate
Six types of cancer are directly linked to excessive alcohol consumption: liver, breast, colon, esophagus, stomach and head and neck cancer
Even light drinking increases the risk of cancer. A UK biobank study found that even low levels of alcohol consumption increased the risk of cancer mortality, particularly in vulnerable populations
The carcinogenic effects of alcohol begin in the mouth, where bacteria convert it into acetaldehyde. It also disrupts hormone balance, gut health, mitochondrial function and sleep patterns, further increasing the risk of cancer
Abstaining from alcohol is the best prevention.

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has released its 2024 Cancer Progress Report, which shows a significant link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. While many people are aware of the harmful effects of alcohol on liver health, its role in cancer development is less well known.

However, according to the report, 5.4% of all cancer cases in the U.S. in 2019 were attributed to alcohol consumption. However, this statistic likely underestimates the true contribution of alcohol to cancer incidence, as some experts believe alcohol may contribute to a third of all cancers —and even that estimate may be too low.

Six types of cancer that are closely linked to alcohol

Moderate alcohol consumption, once considered harmless or even beneficial, is now considered harmful to health, with no safe level of alcohol consumption. The AACR report highlights the urgent need to raise awareness of this preventable risk factor and take steps to mitigate it.

Yet 51% of Americans are unaware that alcohol consumption increases their risk of certain types of cancer. The AACR report identifies six types of cancer that are directly linked to excessive alcohol consumption:

liver cancer
breast cancer
colon cancer
esophageal cancer
stomach cancer
head and neck cancer

The good news is that stopping alcohol consumption has a significant beneficial impact on cancer risk. According to the AACR report, people who stop drinking completely reduce their risk of developing alcohol-related cancers by 8%.

New study questions supposed benefits of light alcohol consumption

A recent study from the UK Biobank cohort has added to the growing body of evidence that even moderate and light alcohol consumption increases cancer risk. The study, which included 135,103 older adults, found that light alcohol consumption increases cancer mortality risk, particularly in those with health or socioeconomic risk factors.

This finding is inconsistent with previous studies that reported a protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. The difference may be due to the improved methodology of this study, which used occasional drinkers as the reference group rather than abstainers, thus avoiding selection biases that have complicated previous research.

In this study, drinking habits were categorized based on daily alcohol consumption. Occasional drinkers were defined as those who consumed 2.86 grams or less of alcohol daily, which is about 1.4 drinks or less per week. Low-risk drinkers were defined as men who consumed more than 2.86 but no more than 20 grams daily (about one to ten drinks per week) and women who consumed more than 2.86 but no more than 10 grams daily (about one to five drinks per week).

Those at moderate risk included men who consumed between 20 and 40 grams daily (10 to 20 drinks per week) and women who consumed between 10 and 20 grams daily (5 to 10 drinks per week).

High-risk drinkers were defined as men who consumed more than 40 grams per day (more than 20 drinks per week) and women who consumed more than 20 grams per day (more than 10 drinks per week). To put this into perspective, a standard drink in the United States contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is roughly equivalent to a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5-ounce shot glass.

Compared with occasional drinkers, low-risk people had higher cancer mortality, moderate-risk persons had increased total and cancer mortality, and high-risk participants were at increased risk in all categories of total, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality.

Your socioeconomic status and overall health also play a role in how alcohol affects your risk of death. The harmful effects of alcohol consumption were more pronounced in people with health and socioeconomic risk factors. In these groups, even those at low risk had higher death rates, particularly from cancer.

The destructive path of alcohol in the mouth and throat

When one drinks alcohol, the ethanol in alcoholic beverages is converted to acetaldehyde, a highly mutagenic compound. This process begins right in the oral cavity, where bacteria and yeast in the normal oral flora convert alcohol into acetaldehyde. The longer ethanol stays in the body, the more acetaldehyde accumulates in the saliva.

Mutagenic levels of acetaldehyde can be reached in as little as 20 to 40 minutes by consuming diluted vodka. This local accumulation of a carcinogenic substance puts the delicate tissues in the mouth at significant risk for DNA damage and cellular changes leading to tumor formation.

Therefore, alcohol is one of the main risk factors for oral cancer, and the risk increases in combination with tobacco consumption. The ethanol in alcoholic beverages acts as a solvent and promotes the penetration of tobacco-specific carcinogens into the oral mucosa. In addition, alcohol dehydrates cell membranes and makes them more permeable to harmful substances. Alcohol also disrupts DNA repair mechanisms.

Esophageal cancer is also closely linked to alcohol consumption. After removing outlier genetic variants, a study published in Epidemiologia found that alcohol consumption was associated with a 3.44 times higher risk of developing esophageal cancer.

In the esophagus, where tissue is particularly vulnerable, DNA damage from acetaldehyde can lead to mutations and eventually cancer. The study also found an increased risk of bile duct cancer, with alcohol consumption increasing the risk by 3.86 times.

Alcohol harms the hormone balance and the intestinal health

Another insidious risk of alcohol is its effects on the hormones, particularly the balance between testosterone and estrogen. Alcohol increases the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, which has various harmful effects in both men and women. Excessive estrogens are one of the main factors that increase the risk of cancer.

Alcohol also increases cancer risk via other mechanisms, including not only acetaldehyde toxicity, but also inflammation, a leaky gut, and weakened immune function. Alcohol consumption also disrupts sleep, meaning you won’t get a restful night’s sleep if you drink, which is another risk factor for cancer.

Alcohol consumption badly impacts the gut microbiome and the gut-liver-brain axis, a bidirectional communication network that connects these three crucial systems in the body. The antimicrobial properties of alcohol that make it effective for sterilization also indiscriminately kill beneficial gut bacteria.

For example, alcohol consumption leads to a reduction in Akkermansia muciniphila, a beneficial bacterial species that occurs naturally in the human gut. This in turn is associated with “dysregulation of microbial metabolite production, impaired intestinal permeability, induction of chronic inflammation and cytokine production.”

How alcohol wreaks havoc on the body

To fully understand the impact of alcohol on human health, it is important to understand the complicated processes that take place in the body when one consumes alcohol. Metabolizing alcohol is an energy-intensive process that depletes the body of essential nutrients and cofactors. This significant energy demand places a significant strain on the system and affects various aspects of the health.

This metabolic process also produces harmful byproducts, with acetaldehyde being a notable example. This toxic compound damages your cells, not only directly, but also disrupts the entire physiological balance of the body.

The effects of alcohol consumption also extend to the endocrine system, throwing the hormones and blood sugar levels out of balance. These disruptions manifest themselves as mood swings and erratic energy levels, while paving the way for chronic conditions such as diabetes and thyroid disease.

In addition, the liver, which plays a crucial role in neutralizing harmful substances, can become overworked. When the liver’s performance is compromised, its ability to process other toxins decreases, leading to a buildup of harmful substances in the body.

The effects of alcohol are not limited to the internal organs, but also affect the digestive tract. By damaging the lining of the gut and disrupting the delicate balance of the microbiome – the complex ecosystem of microorganisms living in our digestive system – alcohol impairs both the digestive health and the immune function.

This disorder triggers a range of problems, from immediate digestive discomfort to increased susceptibility to infections and long-term health complications.

In fact, alcohol consumption has similarities to consuming excessive omega-6 fats, such as linoleic acid, in terms of the harmful compounds they produce. When metabolized, these substances generate oxidized linoleic acid metabolites known as OXLAMs.

The common feature of these molecules is their nature as reactive aldehydes. Alcohol, as mentioned above, turns into a reactive aldehyde called acetaldehyde. These reactive aldehydes wreak havoc throughout the body by damaging the mitochondria – the powerhouses of our cells – and accelerating the aging process at the cellular level.

Alcohol damages the function of the mitochondria

I used to drink alcohol occasionally, but that transformed after I read more about the health effects of alcohol. With this knowledge, I have decided to give it up completely. I would like to encourage you to critically examine your own alcohol consumption habits, if any – and to immerse yourself in the scientific literature. Weigh up the current pleasure of drinking against the scientifically proven damage it does to your body.

The most effective way to prevent the harmful effects of alcohol is to avoid it altogether.

For optimal health, consider abstaining from alcohol altogether and instead exploring the reasons why you drink. Whether it’s due to stress, social pressure, or simply habit, look for alternative methods to meet those needs. This might include choosing social activities that don’t involve drinking, using alternative methods to reduce stress, or transforming your routine so you’re not tempted to drink.

These findings on the effects of alcohol are part of a larger investigation I have conducted into the key factors that influence health and longevity. At the heart of this research is the critical role of mitochondrial health. I cover this topic in detail in my book, Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy, and show that improving mitochondrial function is essential for both preventing and reversing long-term disease.

Alcohol consumption is just one of several key factors that badly impact mitochondria and accelerate the aging process. Other important factors include an excess of omega-6 fatty acids, exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system. By eliminating these harmful influences and prioritizing the health of your cells, you can significantly improve your overall well-being and extend your life expectancy.

Sources:

Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola

yogaesoteric
December 3, 2024