Wednesday, 20 February 2013 18:38 The airwaves have been abuzz
over a recent publication concerning the negative impact of
alcohol on cancer-related deaths. The results of the article in
the American Journal of Public Health confirm results of other
studies. The WineDoctors would like to review the relationship
between alcohol and cancer and focus on the impact of alcohol on
breast and head and neck cancers. Ethanol has been classified as
the most important carcinogen in alcoholic beverages. The
epidemiological evidence of the carcinogenicity of alcoholic
beverage consumption shows little indication that alcohol’s
carcinogenic effects depend on the type of alcoholic beverage. A
linear association has been noted for average daily alcohol
consumption and cancer risk. There is a clear dose response
meaning that the more alcohol one consumes, the higher that
individual’s cancer risk. Some other compounds found in wine
(lead, arsenic, ethyl carbamate, acetaldehyde) may pose risks
below thresholds normally tolerate