Alcohol is a stimulant that has been shown to be harmful to health. Researchers have now taken a closer look at the link between alcohol and cancer. It turned out that even two small glasses of wine or half a liter of beer a day increase the risk.
According to an expert commission, around four percent of all worldwide cancers detected for the first time last year could be related to the consumption of alcohol. Harriet Rumgay’s team from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon presents its study in the Journal.
In absolute numbers, there were a good 741,000 cases that, according to the study, could be associated with alcohol consumption. Men are affected in about three quarters of the cases.
In Germany, according to the calculations, around 21,500 cancers diagnosed for the first time last year were related to alcohol consumption. That is also a share of four percent. The estimated share was particularly high in Eastern Europe and East Asia at around six percent. North Africa and West Asia had the lowest rate.
Alcohol – even moderate drinking increases the risk
Among those diagnosed are mainly people with high alcohol consumption. In 14 percent of the cases, however, it was also people with “moderate” drinking behavior – that corresponds to 20 grams of alcohol per day, i.e. about two small glasses of wine or half a liter of beer. The International Cancer Research Agency (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on him to reduce alcohol consumption. It goes on to say: “Quitting alcohol completely is even better for reducing your risk of cancer.”
According to the study, alcohol damages human DNA and affects hormone levels in the body, which can contribute to cancer. Esophageal, liver and, in women, breast cancer are particularly common in connection with alcohol.
The study worked with estimated values. The effects of the corona pandemic on alcohol consumption and reported cancers were therefore not included in the results.
