Routine Heavy Drinking Said a Cause of Colon Cancer

Routine heavy drinking is a significant cause of cancers including colon cancer, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

The morning-after hangover experienced by people who drink too much is caused by acetaldehyde, a chemical produced when the body processes alcohol in beer, wine and liquor. Acetaldehyde damages DNA, which in turn can upset the regulation of cell growth, resulting in cancer.

Two enzymes in the liver break down alcohol into other chemicals. Alcohol dehydrogenase changes alcohol into acetaldehyde and acetaldehyde dehygrogenase-2 (ALDH-2) converts acetaldehyde into another chemical.

People usually make enough ALDH-2 to get rid of small amounts of acetaldehyde but if they drink in excess acetaldehyde lingers in the system and its toxic effects contribute to a hangover and other morning-after symptoms.

People who frequently drink too much alcohol get more exposure to the chemical, which researchers believe may increase their risk of developing cancer, including colon cancer.

An estimated 50 percent of people of Japanese and Chinese heritage either lack the gene that produces ALDH-2, or have a mutation that reduces its production to a fraction of normal levels. When people with severe ALDH-2 deficiency drink alcohol, it makes them sick. ALDH-2 deficiency is possibly the reason for the high risk of stomach and other digestive system cancers in found in Japan and China.

Other Sources: Scripps Howard