- Recent studies have shown that higher lifetime alcohol intake may increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
- The results of this study show that heavy drinking is associated with the highest risks, especially rectal cancer, and that former drinkers have a lower risk.
- This study suggests that lower lifetime alcohol intake may reduce the overall risk of developing cancer.
Colorectal cancer is cancer that starts in either the colon or rectum. Depending on where it occurs, it may also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer.
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“Our study is one of the first to examine how lifetime drinking is associated with both colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer risk,” said the co-senior authors.
“While there is less data on ex-drinkers, we are encouraged to know that their risk may revert to that of a light drinker,” Loftfield continued.
The research team observed 1,679 cases of colorectal cancer among 88,092 participants during a median follow-up of 14.5 years.
Research shows that people with average ability alcohol intake Drinking 14 or more drinks per week was associated with a 25% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. Average alcohol use was also associated with a 95% higher risk of developing the disease. rectal cancer.
These results were compared to people who averaged less than one drink per week over their lifetime.
Researchers looked at the consistency of drinking and found that heavy drinkers (more than 14 drinks per week) were associated with a 91% higher risk of colorectal cancer than consistent light drinkers (less than 1 drink per week).
In contrast, when we looked at former drinkers, we found no evidence of an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Former drinkers were also shown to have a lower risk of developing non-cancerous colorectal tumors (adenoma), which can lead to cancer. This is compared to current light drinkers. These findings may indicate that Temperance It can lower people’s risk.
“This study gives us hope that it’s not too late to reduce alcohol intake, as this may reduce colon polyps and potentially cancer,” he said. Anton BilchikMD, is a surgical oncologist, medical director, and director of the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary program at Providence St. John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. Bilchik was not involved in the study.
However, the researchers note that there was limited data to support their findings.
The effect of alcohol on colorectal cancer risk may be associated with: carcinogen produced from alcohol metabolism or the effects of alcohol intestinal microorganisms. Further studies are needed to test whether these mechanisms are involved.
“The results of this observational study were less straightforward and raised questions about how accurate survey-based studies like this are,” he said. timothy cannonMD, Director of the Sheridan Molecular Tumor Board and Co-Director of the Inova Gastrointestinal Cancer Program. Cannon was not involved in the study.
Lifestyle-related risk factors other than alcohol consumption include:
“This study provides further insight into how important lifestyle, diet and alcohol use are in the development of cancer, but that paying attention to all these factors can reduce cancer risk,” Bilchik said.
Risk factors that cannot be changed include:
If you have questions or concerns about your risk of colorectal cancer, please consult your health care professional.
“Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in people.
“We thought it was interesting that this study showed that this increase occurred primarily in left-sided colon cancer, and that alcohol-induced colorectal cancer also appeared to be primarily left-sided colon cancer. Future studies should assess how alcohol contributes to this epidemic,” Cannon said.