How Does The Combination Of Alcohol And Tobacco Affect Cancer Risk
Epidemiologic research shows that people who use both alcohol and tobacco have much greater risks of developing cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx , larynx, and esophagus than people who use either alcohol or tobacco alone. In fact, for oral and pharyngeal cancers, the risks associated with using both alcohol and tobacco are multiplicative that is, they are greater than would be expected from adding the individual risks associated with alcohol and tobacco together .
A Recent Report Which Says That Drinking Red Wine Prevents Prostate Cancer Has Made Waves In The National Press But How Much Truth Is In The Claim
Red wine has been linked to dozens of health benefits over the years, from fighting tooth decay to preventing diabetes, but a new study has made a claim that vino tinto might protect against prostate cancer.
The study, which was picked up by the Mailonline, Mirror and Sun, suggested that drinking one glass of red wine per day could protect men against prostate cancer, while switching to white would increase the risk.
Published in the journal Clinical Epidemiology, the researchers argued that the difference lies in the levels of resveratrol a chemical found in the skin of red grapes released during the winemaking process.
The findings were part of a meta-analysis of 17 separate studies on the links between moderate wine consumption and prostate cancer, encompassing around 611,169 men worldwide.
The scientists claimed that people who drank a moderate amount of red wine were 12% less likely to develop the disease, but interestingly, moderate consumption of white wine increased the risk of prostate cancer.
However, this is a slight oversimplification of the studys results. Mihai Dorin Vartolomei, Ph.D., M.D., from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures in Romania said that overall, moderate wine consumption did not impact the risk of prostate cancer.
Between 15% and 20% of men are affected by prostate cancer at some time in their lives.
According to this meta-analysis moderate wine consumption is not a risk factor for PCa development.
What Does This Report Say
It says there are ways women can lower their risk of breast cancer by focusing on factors they can control, like diet, weight and exercise.
After analysing more than 100 studies that examined the medical history of 12 million women, the report backs up current advice to be aware of alcohol consumption.
The report found evidence that drinking an extra small glass of wine every day increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer after the menopause by 9%.
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It Helps With Weight Control
Red wine goes hand in hand with a gene that slows the formation of new fat cells. Furthermore, red wine helps with stopping the growth of already existing fat cells. So not only does drinking a glass of red wine help with slowing down this process, but it also supports our body in much more.
To get this effect, the best thing to do is to drink small quantities every day. More than a glass would be harmful to your body. Also, it is recommended that youdrink it slowly. This way, your body can digest and absorb its properties.
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New Research Shows That Low Doses Of A Material Found In Red Wine Helps Prevent Bowel Cancer But Before You Drink Up Theres A Few Important Things You Should Know
Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine and some berries, has generated buzz since a series of studies indicated its incredible health benefits. The compound, which is naturally produced by some plants in response to bacterial and fungal infections, is thought to be a powerful antioxidant. Resveratrol reportedly promotes anti-aging in addition to its numerous disease-combating benefits. As well as triggering the process of cancer cell death and limiting the spread of cancer cells, resveratrol may protect against heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimers disease.
Red wine contains some of the highest levels of resveratrol because, unlike white wine, its fermented with the grape skins, allowing the wine to extract resveratrol from the fruit. However, this doesnt justify downing a few too many glasses of red wine when happy hour rolls around, because researchers have discovered that less is more.
A study published recently in the journal Science Translational Medicine determined that resveratrol can help prevent cancerous tumors, specifically bowel cancer. But low doses were more potent than large doses.
In comparing the amount of resveratrol found in one large glass of wine to a dose 200 times higher, results revealed that cancer-prone mice given the smaller dose showed a 50 percent reduction in tumor size while the high dose only shrunk the tumor 25 percent. However, there was a surprising factor in the results lower doses of
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Mixed Messaging On Red Wine: Separating Myth From Fact
Karen Collins
Karen Collins, MS, RDN, CDN, FAND is AICRs Nutrition Advisor. Karen is a speaker, writer and consultant who specializes in helping people make sense of nutrition news. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook
Many choices you make to lower the risk of cancer pack an extra health-protective punch because they also lower the risk of heart disease. But trying to make a smart choice about alcohol can be confusing.
Alcohol especially wine has an image as a heart-healthy choice, and fewer than 4 in 10 people are aware that alcohol poses a cancer risk. But it does, and the link should be of special concern to women since increased breast cancer risk starts at relatively low amounts of alcohol.
Guidelines focused on heart health emphasize that you should not drink alcohol specifically in hopes of cardiovascular benefits.
But What About Recurrence
Before you head to the bar, however, keep in mind that Li didnât look at whether drinking alcohol could trigger a recurrence, either local or metastatic. He only looked at whether drinking could be linked to death â from breast cancer or something else.
âThere are other studies that have linked alcohol consumption to risks of having both a breast cancer recurrence or of developing a second breast cancer,â he said. âThese are also important outcomes because they typically lead to more treatment, potentially including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, and so they can take significant physical and emotional tolls.â
Li specifically studies how lifestyle factors like alcohol use, obesity and smoking can affect the risk of contracting breast cancer.
His 2009 study revealed breast cancer survivors who smoked and drank more than one drink a day were seven times more likely to get an ER+ breast cancer in their other breast than women who drank fewer than seven drinks a week and didnât smoke.
Breast cancer oncologist and researcher Dr. Julie Gralow said she wasnât surprised by Liâs findings.
âWeâve never had data about alcohol intake after a breast cancer diagnosis,â she said. âSo this is new information. But frankly, Iâm not surprised. Iâve always told my patients that data on alcohol intake was much stronger regarding incidence of breast cancer versus recurrence.â
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Drinking After Breast Cancer Wont Raise Mortality Risk Study Shows
Weâve all heard that drinking booze â even in moderation â can bump your risk for breast cancer. As a result, many women and men diagnosed with the disease have either sworn off alcohol entirely or worry when they do imbibe.
âI feel guilty often for drinking,â said Maile Feuerman, 40-year-old, stay-at-home mom from Eureka, California, who was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. âI donât want to have to wonder if it comes back because I did this. But I love my wine.â
A new study out of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center offers a glimmer of good news for those whoâve been diagnosed and treated for the disease: moderate alcohol use after a breast cancer diagnosis wonât lead to a lethal recurrence.
Alcohol use among breast cancer survivors has been linked to increased risks of developing a breast cancer recurrence, i.e., finding more cancer in a breast thatâs already been diagnosed and, say, had a lumpectomy. Drinking also ups your risk of being diagnosed with a second breast cancer in the opposite âhealthyâ breast.
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Ways To Help Prevent Cancer
The charity surveyed 2,000 British adults about whether they knew certain types of product were linked to cancer, for example, red wine or ham.
Dr Rachel Thompson, head of research interpretation at World Cancer Research Fund, added: “Cancer is a devastating disease and we are working for a world free of preventable cancers. People are aware of some risk factors, such as inherited genes, but not some of the modifiable lifestyle factors that can really make a difference.
“With so many people being diagnosed with cancer, we want people to know what factors are increasing their risk, such as red wine, so that they can make informed choices to help reduce their risk”.
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Other Health Problems And Alcohol
Heavy use of alcohol is linked to many other health problems such as cirrhosis of the liver, alcohol dependence, stroke, suicide, injury and car accidents.
In order to prevent harm from alcohol to their unborn child, women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol. When a woman is breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is the safest option for the health of their baby.
Can Drinking Red Wine Help Prevent Cancer
The plant secondary compound resveratrol, found in grapes used to make red wine and some other plants, has been investigated for many possible health effects, including cancer prevention. However, researchers have found no association between moderate consumption of red wine and the risk of developing prostate cancer or colorectal cancer .
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What Breakthroughs Are Coming Next
However, when it comes to dying â usually the biggest concern for those whoâve been diagnosed â thereâs not much of an association. According to epidemiologist and lead author Dr. Christopher Li, alcohol use after a breast cancer diagnosis does not increase your risk of dying of the disease.
âModeration is very important but our study supports previous studies in suggesting that the occasional glass of wine does not seem to impact a womanâs risk of dying of breast cancer,â he said.
Alcohol And Cancer Recurrence
In studies of breast cancer survivors, moderate alcohol use was not shown to increase the risk of recurrence. Recurrence is the return of the cancer. Additionally, moderate alcohol use was not shown to lower the survival rates.
Similar information about other types of cancers is limited. However, it is probably still best to avoid heavy drinking after a cancer diagnosis because of the link to cancer risk.
Studies also show that head and neck cancer survivors who continue to drink are at an increased risk of recurrence. This is especially true with moderate to heavy drinking.
If you are a cancer survivor, talk with your doctor about how much alcohol you drink and the effect it could have on your long-term health.
The information in this article is based on Alcohol and Cancer: A Statement of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, found on ASCOs website.
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Does Alcohol Raise Estrogen Levels
Yes.
Drinking alcohol increases the serum level of endogenous estrogens. Serum is the clear liquid that can be separated from clotted blood. Endogenous means produced or grown in the body.
Even drinking small amounts of alcohol, say 1.25 to 2.5 standard drinks per day raises the level of estrogen.
Why is estrogen a problem? In estrogen receptor -positive human breast cancer cells, alcohol increases ER-dependent gene expression. This results in cells being reproduced quickly and at high speed.
If you had ER-positive breast cancer, the goal now is to keep estrogen levels low. Youre likely taking medication to do that. Since alcohol raises estrogen levels, drinking can be counterproductive to that effort.
Can Red Wine Help Prevent Oral Cancer
Does red wine help fight and prevent oral cancer? Maybe. A recent blog post on The Huffington Post references a 2011 research that a substance called resveratrolan anti-oxidant found in red grapes, wine, peanuts, plums and other plantscan make tumor cells more sensitive to chemotherapy. According to Subash D. Gupta, Ph.D. and his colleagues, cancer cells can develop multiple means of resistance to chemotherapy, which makes successful treatment complicated. Resveratrol helps the body become more sensitive to chemotherapy.
The article further reveals that resveratrol is a natural antibiotic and it helps damaged cells in plants from replicating. So can the same thing happen to cancerous cells within the human body? Studies have shown the answer may be a YES. “These laboratory studies reveal that it may help fight cancer by suppressing the growth of cells, as well as hinder cancers ability to latch on and invade healthy cells.”
Before you invest in a wine cellar, check out this article from MD Anderson Cancer Center with these three tips for reaping wines possible health benefits:
- Stick with red – red and purple grapes may have more cancer-fighting benefits.
- Consider the vineyard – grapes grown in cooler climates seem to have more resveratrol.
- Remember portion control – the recommended serving size is five ounces. Drinking heavily actually damages cells and increases the chances for cancer.
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Drinking Wine Lowers Risk Of Barretts Esophagus Precursor To Nations Fastest Growing Cancer Study Suggests
- Date:
- Kaiser Permanente
- Summary:
- A new study found drinking one glass of wine a day may lower the risk of Barretts Esophagus by 56 percent. There was no reduction of Barretts Esophagus risk among people who drank beer or liquor.
Drinking one glass of wine a day may lower the risk of Barretts Esophagus by 56 percent, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in the March issue of Gastroenterology. Barretts Esophagus is a precursor to esophageal cancer, the nations fastest growing cancer with an incidence rate thats jumped 500 percent in the last 30 years.
Barretts Esophagus affects 5 percent of the population and occurs when heartburn or acid reflux permanently damages the esophageal lining. People with Barretts Esophagus have a 30- to 40-fold higher risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma because the Barretts Esophagus cells can grow into cancer cells.
Because there are no symptoms or warning signs of Barretts Esophagus, people discover they have Barretts Esophagus when an endoscopy for anemia, heartburn or a bleeding ulcer reveals esophageal cells that were damaged, then changed form during the healing process. Currently nothing can be done to treat Barretts Esophagus it can only be monitored.
Researchers noted, though, that the protective effect of wine in terms of preventing Barretts Esophagus was greatest with just one or two glasses a day. The protective effect of wine did not increase with higher consumption.
Whats A Safe Amount Of Alcohol To Drink
Depending on which research you read, or from whom you get your information, youre likely to get conflicting and confusing messages on HOW MUCH alcohol is safe to drink after youve been diagnosed.
Because of the inconsistencies and variations in research, its difficult to draft concrete guidelines. Remember, the WCRF hasnt issued specific alcohol guidelines for breast cancer survivors.
This is where you must decide whats comfortable for you.
Some evidence suggests ANY alcohol consumption, even at levels as low as 6 grams per day moderately increases the risk of recurrence, particularly in postmenopausal women. Thats about 1.2 teaspoons of pure alcohol, or less than ½ of a standard drink.
If that information gives you pause, but youre not ready to give up drinking completely, think about what matters most to you.
- If enjoying a special, fine dining meal means drinking good wine.
- Consider drinking only at special meals .
There are guidelines specific to alcohol consumption re: reducing risk of an INITIAL breast cancer diagnosis , but please remember to not confuse those with guidelines for risk of recurrence.
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Adopt The Habit Of Drinking A Glass Of Wine
If drinking red wine wasnt a part of your diet, its a good idea to add it. Many people start drinking wine to enjoy the flavors it brings. Luckily, there is a large selection of wines to suit any taste. Try them and find the ones you like the most.
Another option is to eat a dessert that uses wine as an ingredient. This will help you reduce the amount of the wine flavor you taste. But, you still get all of the benefits.
Finally, just be sure that you dont eat too much sugar and remember that moderation is key!
Cheers!
Health Benefits Of Drinking Red Wine
Tuesday, May 25th, 2021
Red and purple grapes, blueberries, cranberries, mulberries, peanuts, and pistachios are sources of resveratrol. Resveratrol may be the wonder ingredient responsible for many of wines benefits. Interestingly, isolating resveratrol does not yield the same powers as the complete package of red wine to protect the body. Youll have to decide if drinking red wine in moderation, up to two glasses per night, is right for you. There is a litany of reasons you might consider it.
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Con: Booze Ups Your Cancer Risk
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a human carcinogen and given the ever-growing number of studies on the subject, its no wonder. Recent research has suggested that even moderate consumption could increase your risk for mouth, esophageal, pharyngeal, breast, liver, lung, and prostate cancers. One report published in JAMA showed that women who averaged just three drinks a week had a 15 percent higher risk of breast cancer than non-drinkers. Another, from Kaiser Permanente, found that people who consumed three or more drinks daily had a 30 percent higher risk of developing lung cancer, with a 70 percent increase if the drink of preference was beer. Researchers did not speculate as to why this was, but its possible that people who drink heavily are also more likely to engage in other high-risk behaviors such as smoking.
