Study: Excessive Alcohol Increases Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Excessive alcohol consumption increases the chances of developing colorectal polyps (adenomas) and colorectal cancer, according to researchers at Antoine Béclére Hospital in Clamart Cedex, France.

Researchers developed a study to analyze the influence of excessive alcohol consumption on the development of high-risk adenomas (larger than 10 mm, villous component, high-grade dysplasia) or colorectal cancer in patients with at least one colon polyp.

In their study, patients who had at least one colorectal adenoma were divided into three groups: 401 were heavy drinkers (average alcohol intake at 117 g/day for an average duration of 22 years, average age 57, 78 percent male); 152 had irritable bowel syndrome (average age 61, 57 percent male); and 108 patients had a family history of colorectal adenoma or cancer (average age 55 years, 64 percent male).

Researchers reported in the journal Gut that the heavy drinkers were twice as likely to develop adenomas, high-risk adenomas and colorectal cancer as patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

"In patients with at least one colorectal adenoma, excessive alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of developing high-risk adenomas or colorectal cancer," wrote the researchers.

Other Sources: Gut