Reports in the National Newspapers today very clearly state that Alcohol consumption causes 13,000 cases of Cancer ever year in the UK.
No it doesn’t.
There is a clear relationship between Alcohol and Cancer, especially Cancers of the Oral Cavity, Pharynx, Larynx, Oesophagus and the Liver, and possibly in the case of Beer, the Colon and Rectum.
But Statistical relationships are not the same as Causal relationships. Animal studies have shown that Ethanol is not a carcinogen. It is, however, a co-carcinogen, and this is why the link is more subtle than that of other known carcinogens. Alcohol (ab)use, as well you know, in the UK is widespread, far more popular than Smoking. And even though we drink copious amounts, direct links to Cancer are only found in 1% of drinkers. Compare that to Smoking that is directly linked to 33% of all Cancer Cases.
Alcohol may contribute to Cancer in two main ways. The first is that the metabolism of Alcohol generates excessive amounts of free radicals, that are part of a fairly accepted model of DNA damage. Damaged DNA is one of the initial steps in Cancer.
Our body can usually recognise this damage, and either repair or remove the offending material. That is, if you have a health immune system. The Star player in the immune system is an antioxidant molecule called Glutathione.
Unfortunately a by-product of Alcohol metabolism called Acetaldehyde is partly detoxified by Glutathione. Chronic drinking essentially ties up your available Glutathione, as it tries to deal with the immediate threat of Alcohol toxicity. This then leaves your body defenceless against other insults on its physiology, the second way Cancer takes hold due to Alcohol.
Even though Alcohol can pave the way for Cancer to take hold and develop, it doesn’t cause it. So, where does that leave us? to drink or not? We know that a certain level of Alcohol consumption, especially good quality Red wine, is preventative against certain disease states, but too much, or the wrong type opens the floodgates to disease.
Moderation is the key, but probably more moderate than our usual definition. A glass or two of wine (or beer) per day is probably fine, but make sure it’s quality, as the chemicals used in cheap products possibly are carcinogens. At this level Alcohol seems to be health promoting as opposed to disease inducing.
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