Alcohol consumption was linked to 4 percent of all new global cancer cases last year, according to a study published Wednesday, as researchers warned of an urgent need to alert people of the risks. Men accounted for more than three quarters of the estimated cases, which were mainly linked to risky or heavy drinking, although one in seven of these alcohol-related cancers were linked to moderate consumption of around two drinks a day. They estimated that 4 percent (741,300) of all new cases of cancer around the world in 2020 were associated with alcohol consumption, with men accounting for 77 percent (568,700 cases) of these and women 23 percent. The study found that the number of new cancer cases linked to alcohol consumption varied widely across the world, with the highest rates seen in East Asia and Central and Eastern Europe and the lowest in North Africa and Western Asia. - 'Low awareness' -The authors point to previous research that found alcohol consumption causes DNA damage and can affect hormone production, which can contribute to cancer development.

Source: Mint July 13, 2021 22:41 UTC