European Code against Cancer 4th Edition: Alcohol drinking and cancer

Chiara Scoccianti, Michele Cecchini, Annie S. Anderson, Franco Berrino, Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault, Carolina Espina, Timothy J. Key, Michael Leitzmann, Teresa Norat, Hilary Powers, Martin Wiseman, Isabelle Romieu (Lead / Corresponding author)

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    69 Citations (Scopus)
    193 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Alcohol consumption is the third leading risk factor for disease and mortality in Europe. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs provide strengthened evidence that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is causally associated with cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum and female breast, even for low and moderate alcohol intakes. The risk of cancer increases in a dose-dependent manner, and the higher the amount of alcohol consumed, the higher the risk of developing cancer. Several biological mechanisms explain the carcinogenicity of alcohol; among them, ethanol and its genotoxic metabolite acetaldehyde play a major role. Taking all this evidence into account, a recommendation of the 4th edition of the European Code against Cancer (ECAC) is: "If you drink alcohol of any type, limit your intake. Not drinking alcohol is better for cancer prevention."

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)S67-S74
    Number of pages8
    JournalCancer Epidemiology
    Volume39
    Issue numberSuppl. 1
    Early online date24 Jun 2015
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2015

    Keywords

    • Alcohol drinking
    • European Union
    • Female
    • Guidelines as topic
    • Humans
    • Neoplasms
    • Risk factors
    • Journal article
    • Research support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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