Study links alcohol to bowel cancer risk
Drinking a large glass of wine or beer a day increases the risk of developing bowel cancer by 10%, according to new research from the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC) appearing in the International Journal of Cancer. EPIC is a long-term study of over half a million people in ten European countries which aims to produce detailed information about the links between diet and cancer. In the current study, 480,000 people were quizzed about their drinking habits and followed up for six years. During that time, 1,833 people developed colon cancer. The research revealed that those who drank 15 grams of alcohol a day had a 10% increased risk of bowel cancer. 15 grams of alcohol is equivalent to half a litre of beer or a large glass (250ml) of wine. Those who drank more than 30 grams of alcohol saw their risk of bowel cancer increase by 25%. 'The research shows quite clearly that the more alcohol you drink the greater your risk of bowel cancer,' said Professor Tim Key, an epidemiologist at Cancer Research UK. 'The increase in risk is not large but it is important that people understand they can reduce their risk of a number of different cancers - including bowel cancer - by cutting down on alcohol.' Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK's Director of Cancer Information, warned people against assuming that one drink is equivalent to one unit of alcohol. 'There is a lot of confusion over safe levels of drinking,' she explained. 'This partly arises over the increasing strength of some wines and beers and the fact that many pubs offer a large glass of wine that is actually equivalent to one third of a bottle.' Research released earlier this year by the International Agency for Research on Cancer revealed that 297,200 cases of colo-rectal cancers were diagnosed in the EU25 in 2006, making it the third most commonly diagnosed cancer after breast cancer and prostate cancer. In the same year there were 139,400 deaths from the disease. Earlier research carried out under the EPIC project has linked high intakes of fibre, fish and dairy products to a reduced risk of cancer. However, high levels of red or processed meat in the diet appear to increase the risk of both bowel and stomach cancers.