Alcohol should carry warning label for cancer risk, US surgeon general says
www.theguardian.com
Advisory warns alcohol is third leading preventable cause of cancer in US and seeks to raise consumer awareness

Summary

Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, contributing to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths annually, according to a new US surgeon general advisory.

Breast cancer accounts for 16.4% of annual alcohol-related cancers, with alcohol increasing the risk of at least seven types, including liver, colorectal, and throat cancers.

Most deaths occur among heavy drinkers, though 17% occur within recommended limits.

Alcohol promotes cancer through DNA damage, inflammation, and hormone changes. Despite clear links, only 45% of Americans recognize alcohol as a cancer risk.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.world
    44·
    5 days ago

    Despite clear links, only 45% of Americans recognize alcohol as a cancer risk.

    I admit, I was not aware it is such a big factor.
    I do remember my biology teacher in the 70’s saying that drinking heavily in the weekend or drinking moderately during the whole week, if it’s similar amount of alcohol it’s equally bad.
    I wonder if that still goes regarding cancer?

    • Pips@lemmy.sdf.org
      17·
      5 days ago

      Yeah, the studies generally point to a cumulative effect. Basically the aldehyde byproduct of alcohol breakdown is also poisonous. It can lead to cancer growths so arguably binge drinking is worse in that respect because it takes longer for everything to clear.

      Interestingly, if there was a way to break that aldehyde down faster, then the cancer risk might go down significantly. It’s just not super clear at this point.

      • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        4 days ago

        There is a way! It’s called Zbiotics and it’s a real product despite the vibes. I use it every time I drink and it really does make a difference. I think the too-good-to-be-true vibes of the whole thing really does this great scientific advancement a real disservice. This stuff could be saving lives if scaled up.

        • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
          1·
          6 hours ago

          This stuff could be saving lives if scaled up.

          Even on their site, which I agree seems too good to be true, they state that this product offers no benefits beyond hangover mitigation. If it works as claimed, that’s great, but it will not slow or reverse the damage of heavy drinking.

          • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
            1·
            37 minutes ago

            Of course they won’t make health claims without extensive studies, it’s the correct and responsible thing to do. I also agree that it can’t “reverse” anything, that’s not how bodies work.

            However, there is, up to this point, no research about how reducing/eliminating acetaldehyde from becoming present in the body reduces the harm of drinking. All we know is that it’s definitely poison en vitro as an isolated compound. The logical conclusion is that it’s also a terrible poison en vivo but until this invention there was no way to test the downsides of ethanol ingestion independent of acetaldehyde but I have no faith any such study will ever be funded in the current puritan environment despite potentially huge public health wins.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.world
        4·
        5 days ago

        So if I understand correctly, my biology teacher was wrong?
        To be honest I always thought that, drinking a full bottle of alcohol quickly, will kill you, so IMO clearly a greater stress on the system. While spreading it out on the whole week, you may barely notice.

        • Pips@lemmy.sdf.org
          5·
          4 days ago

          Tolerance is a real thing and can be developed over time. However it’s not clear if that has any relation to cancer risk, which appears to be related to ability to clear the aldehyde byproduct.