Massive Study Finds Heavy Alcohol Consumption Increases Colorectal Cancer Risk by 25 Percent
Research involving over 88000 adults reveals a direct link between long term heavy drinking and a sharp rise in disease risk while quitting may reduce the danger
A new study spanning approximately 20 years and including over 88,000 adults from the United States reveals that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer. The findings were published in the medical journal "Cancer."
Drinking Patterns and Their Impact
Researchers sought to examine how alcohol consumption patterns throughout a lifetime affect the risk of developing colorectal cancer or precancerous polyps. Participants reported their beer, wine, and spirit consumption across four different age periods, ranging from age 18 to 55 and older.
According to the study definitions, heavy drinking was defined as more than 14 alcoholic beverages per week, while moderate drinking was defined as consuming 7 to 14 drinks per week. Researchers compared heavy drinkers, moderate drinkers, and light drinkers or those who drank in the past and stopped.
Heavy Drinking and Significant Risk Increase
The data indicates that consistent heavy drinking throughout adulthood is linked to a significant increase in the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Data analysis revealed that lifetime heavy drinking was associated with an approximately 25 percent increase in the overall risk of colorectal cancer and nearly doubled the risk of rectal cancer.
In contrast, lifetime moderate drinking was found to be associated with a lower risk compared to heavy drinking. However, researchers emphasize that even non extreme patterns can impact risk in the long term.
Stopping Drinking May Lower Risk
Regarding precancerous polyps, no distinct pattern was found between current high alcohol consumption and the risk of their formation. However, among participants who had stopped drinking alcohol in the past, a lower risk for the appearance of non advanced adenomas was observed.
Researchers note that based on the data, high and sustained alcohol consumption throughout adult life may raise the risk of colorectal cancer, while stopping drinking may reduce the risk of precancerous lesions.
Many studies in recent years indicate that alcohol consumption, even at levels considered moderate, can negatively affect many body systems. This includes increasing inflammatory processes and impairing toxin clearing mechanisms, which leads to a rise in the risk of several types of cancer.