Study: Regular Drinking Increases Risk of Rectal Cancer

People who have more than 14 alcoholic drinks a week may be significantly increasing their risk of rectal cancer, though the risk does not appear to be quite as high for wine drinkers, according to Danish researchers.

The study, from the Centre for Alcohol Research in Copenhagen, also found no link between alcohol consumption and colon cancer.

The findings, reported in the journal Gut, add more confusion about alcohol and its link to colorectal cancer. Previous studies have suggested a weak connection between excessive drinking and colorectal cancer.

In this study, the researchers followed nearly 30,000 men and women for an average of 14.7 years recording weekly intake of beer, wine, and spirits. By the end of the study period, 411 people had developed colon cancer and another 202 were diagnosed with rectal cancer.

Those who reported drinking more than 14 servings of beer and spirits every week, but not wine, were more than three times more likely than non-drinkers to develop rectal cancer, the researchers reported.

Those who drank just as much but where wine accounted for one-third of their alcohol intake had a lower risk, though it was still almost double that of non-drinkers.

"Alcohol intake is associated with a significantly increased risk of rectal cancer but the risk seems to be reduced when wine is included in the alcohol intake," the researchers concluded.

Other Sources: GUT