AICR
Key Takeaways:
- New research shows that alcohol is linked with a higher risk of colorectal cancer regardless of the tumor’s molecular subtype.
- More alcohol means greater risk. The study shows that each additional drink (14 g alcohol) is associated with a 10 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer. The increase was most apparent among people drinking more than two drinks per day.
- The findings of this study support current AICR recommendations that it is best not to drink alcohol for cancer prevention.
New research provides strong evidence that drinking alcohol increases the risk of colorectal cancer. This is the case regardless of the tumor’s molecular subtype. The study reinforces current recommendations to limit or avoid alcohol to help reduce cancer risk.
The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The research was funded by Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds (WKOF), the Netherlands-based partner of the World Cancer Research Fund International grant program and a parter with AICR.
About the Study
Alcohol has long been linked to colorectal cancer. Researchers wanted to know whether it primarily affects one specific biological pathway or increases colorectal cancer risk more broadly.
The study was led by Dr. Christos Chalitsios and Dr. Konstantinos Tsilidis of the University of Ioannina (Greece) and Imperial College London (UK). They analyzed data from more than 22,000 people. They examined several major molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer, including those defined by:
- Microsatellite instability (MSI)
- CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)
- Mutations in the BRAF and KRAS genes
What Did the Researchers Find?
They found that alcohol was associated with a similar increase in risk across all these tumor subtypes. In other words, there was no evidence that alcohol selectively increases the risk of one specific type of colorectal cancer.
The study also found that among people who drink alcohol, risk increases with higher consumption. Each additional 14 grams of alcohol per day, which is about one standard drink, was linked to a 10 percent higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. The increase was most apparent in people drinking more than 28 grams of alcohol per day, which is roughly two or more drinks.
What is “one standard drink?”
The researchers measured alcohol intake by 14 grams or “one standard drink.” You may wonder how that translates to actual amounts. One drink is equal to:
- 12 ounces of beer, ale or hard cider
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1½ ounce shot of rum, vodka, whiskey, tequila, etc.
“Alcohol is consistently associated with a range of adverse health outcomes,” says Dr. Tsilidis, a lead researcher on the study. “Evidence no longer supports the idea that alcohol is ‘good’ for health at any level. Although there are still unknowns in alcohol and health research, alcohol should not be recommended for disease prevention. People who choose to drink are advised to keep consumption as low as possible.”
The researchers ended the published study with these messages:
- This study provides evidence that heavy alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer across all examined major molecular subtypes.
- Our results support existing public health guidelines advocating for reduced alcohol.
What This Means for You
This study supports AICR’s key message: For cancer prevention, it is best not to drink alcohol. There is no “safe” amount of alcohol that does not increase risk of at least some cancers.
In addition to colorectal cancer, there is strong evidence that drinking alcohol is linked to other types of cancer, including:
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Head and neck cancers.
Any kind of alcohol increases the risk of cancer. It does not matter whether you choose wine, beer, whiskey, vodka or any other alcohol-based drink. They are all tied to the same risk.
The less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk for cancer. Even though most of us understand that drinking alcohol can be harmful, many Americans reach for a beer or a glass of wine without too much thought.
