Just one drink a day may increase the risk of dying from numerous cancers
KSL News • • general
Key Points:
- A new study reveals that alcohol's contribution to cancer deaths in the US has increased by over 58% among adults aged 20 and older over the past 33 years, despite an overall decline in cancer mortality.
- Alcohol is linked to higher mortality in several cancers, including breast, prostate, colorectal, stomach, pancreatic, liver, and head and neck cancers, with colorectal cancer being a leading cause of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in younger adults.
- Even moderate alcohol consumption—about one standard drink per day—raises cancer risk, challenging previous federal guidelines that suggested moderate daily drinking was acceptable for men and women.
- Alcohol promotes cancer growth by damaging DNA through its metabolite acetaldehyde, causing oxidative stress, altering hormone levels, and impairing nutrient absorption, with risks varying by age and sex.
- The study emphasizes reducing alcohol intake to the lowest possible level to minimize cancer risk, although industry representatives dispute the claim that no safe level of alcohol consumption exists.
