Saptaparna Dasgupta, Bennett University
Studies have stated that alcohol consumption is linked to the induction of several cancers. Global estimates reveal that in the year 2020, 4.1% of the reported cancer cases were from alcohol consumption. Heavy drinking (>60 g per day) is the largest cause of cancer, majorly amongst male patients. Researchers conducted a population-based study at a global level, known as population attributable fractions (PAFs). The interpretation of the research data underscores the requirement for the effective implementation of policies. Also, it highlights the initiatives to improve knowledge of cancer risks associated with alcohol use.
Worldwide consumption of alcohol:
Consumption of alcohol is related to several diseases, out of which the deadliest one is cancer, and thus leads to the global burden of disease. It causes cancer in parts such as the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and the esophagus, composing the parts of the upper aerodigestive tract. Moreover, it also contributes to cancer of the colon, rectum, liver, and breast. Statistics reveal, according to the data of the year 2020, there were 6.3 million patients reported with cancer. Amongst these patients with cancer, 3.3 million patients died. The alcohol consumption pattern has drastically changed over time, all across the world. It has decreased in many of the European countries. Whereas, on the other hand, several Asian countries have depicted a rise in the peak of alcohol consumption.
The Study:
The current monograph for different types of cancer was obtained from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). These data were utilized based on personal habits, and the level of alcohol consumption of the patients. Various types of cancers were studied in the patients, except for non-melanoma skin cancer. The collected data were categorized based on the patients who were formerly drinking, but not in the past 12 months, and regular consumers. Several other parameters, such as age, sex, amount of alcohol consumption, etc. were taken into consideration at the time of result estimation.
PAF calculation:
The effect of consumption of alcohol influencing the worldwide rate of cancer was estimated using the Levin-based population attributable fraction (PAF) method. The PAF was calculated for each of the groups based on age, sex, native country, type of cancer, etc. The following formula was used for the calculation of the PAF:
Wherein,
Pсᴅ = Prevalence of current drinking rate
RRсᴅ = Cancer relative risk of current drinking rate.
X = the total amount of the alcohol consumption
Upper integration limit = 150 g alcohol consumed per day
Results obtained:
Interpretation of the results states that 7,41,300 cases were reported of cancer, due to alcohol consumption. The rates of cancer due to alcohol consumption were observed to be higher in males as compared to females. Also, the PAF rates were the highest in cancer of the esophagus, pharynx, lip, and oral cavity. The highest PAFs were seen in Mongolia, China, Moldova, and Romania. This states that the parts of eastern Asia and central Europe depict the highest rates of PAFs. On the contrary, the lowest PAFs were observed in northern parts of Africa and western Asia. Out of the total cases of cancer, the average drinking quantity was observed as <20 g per day amongst all the patients.
Discussion:
It could clearly be interpreted from the results that approximately three-quarters of the cancer cases were due to alcohol consumption in males. Moderate drinking of alcohol contributed to 1/7th of the reported cancer cases. A decrease in the rate of alcohol consumption could potentially decrease the death rate of people in several parts of the world. Alcohol consumption stands to be one of the major causes of cancer, due to the various biological pathways that take place induced by ethanol. Ethanol can cause damage to the DNA and protein structures. It also causes alterations to the lipid structures and destruction of the acetaldehyde groups; oxidative stress and causes the alteration of regular hormones within the human body. In conjunction with it, ethanol also serves as the solvent for other carcinogens such as tobacco (in Fig 1.).
Fig 1. Alcohol consumption stands to be one of the major causes of cancer, due to the various biological pathways that take place induced by ethanol. Ethanol can cause damage to the DNA and protein structures. It also causes alterations to the lipid structures and destruction of the acetaldehyde groups; oxidative stress and causes the alteration of regular hormones within the human body. In conjunction with it, ethanol also serves as the solvent for other carcinogens such as tobacco. (Created with BioRender.com)
A point proven:
It was thus discovered that the use of alcohol causes a significant amount of cancer. It could be averted by cost-effective policies and initiatives to raise knowledge about the harmful effects and reduction of the total consumption of alcohol. General population policies like the best purchases from WHO include reducing availability, increasing prices through taxes, prohibiting marketing, etc. Action is required to minimize the preventable burden of alcohol cancer, with alcohol consumption expected to be increased until 2030 around the globe.
Also read: How statins lower the death rate in COVID-19 patients
REFERENCE:
- Rumgay, H., Shield, K., Charvat, H., Ferrari, P., Sornpaisarn, B., Obot, I., Islami, F., Lemmens, V. E. P. P., Rehm, J., & Soerjomataram, I. (2021). Global burden of cancer in 2020 attributable to alcohol consumption: A population-based study. The Lancet Oncology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00279-5
- The Corrosion Prediction from the Corrosion Product Performance
- Nitrogen Resilience in Waterlogged Soybean plants
- Cell Senescence in Type II Diabetes: Therapeutic Potential
- Transgene-Free Canker-Resistant Citrus sinensis with Cas12/RNP
- AI Literacy in Early Childhood Education: Challenges and Opportunities
Author info:
Saptaparna Dasgupta, currently a B. Tech 3rd-year student, pursuing Biotechnology, is a diligent student and determined in terms of her career goals. Being a budding biotechnologist, she is open to all research fields of her course and passionate about knowledge. She is focused and constantly tries to improve her writing skills, also a project enthusiast and is fond of gaining hands-on experience in laboratories. She believes that all hard work and efforts pays off eventually and follows this as the motto of her life. Check out some of her works on:
Pre-exposure Prophylaxis trajectories for targeting AIDS
Kanikah Mehndiratta, MSc, University of Glasgow Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a national program by the US government that provides medication with anti-retroviral drugs. It is specifically intended for adults and adolescents that are at higher risk of getting infected with the Human Immuno Virus (HIV) in the future. It is a preventative approach in which […]