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Alcohol and cancer
Alcohol y el corazón
Alcohol y el cáncer
Las mujeres y el alcohol
Alcohol y diabetes
El consumo de alcohol y la vejez?
Alcohol y las alergias

Lo que dicen los medicos
Perhaps no illness is more feared in the Western world than cancer as indeed few causes have been identified, with the exception of smoking. Research concerning drinking and cancer has,until recently, been confused and contradictary.

We know that heavy drinking is implicated in several cancers, notably of the throat, larynx, liver and upper digestive tract, but for moderate drinkers recent research is encouraging:

The American Cancer Society reported findings in 1998 that there was a reduction in cancer mortality rates of 20% amongst those who drank two or four drinks (8g) a day, when compared with non-drinkers. These results were echoed by Dr Serge Reynaud in 1998, who published similar results for men drinking 2-3 drinks a day. Dr Reynaud found that at consumption levels above that, risk of cancer increases.

How can moderate alcohol consumption help?
The same antioxidants present in wine, beers and ciders that help protect against heart disease also play roles in reducing cancer risk.
Antioxidants?
It is thought that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in high levels in red wines, inhibits the progression of malignancy. Quercetin another antioxidant ( found in beer and wine, plus in shallots, garlic and onions) is believed to reduce the risk of stomach cancer, leukemia and ovarian cancer. The basis of the protection is the inhibition of oxidation, which is a cause of the initiation and progression of tumours

In short, antioxidants may protect against cancer by:

  • shielding DNA from oxidative damage
  • inducing enzymes that protect against malignant mutation
  • promoting normal cell differentiation and maturation
  • inhibiting the growth of cancer cells
  • enhancing the effects of chemotherapy

It is important to emphasise that we are in the early days of understanding these mechanisms. Cancer causation and protection are complex subjects and further research is needed. Please consult your doctor for specific advice.
LINKS

www.cancerbacup.org
www.crc.org.uk
www.imperialcancer.co.uk
www.macmillan.org.uk
www.mariecurie.org.uk
institute of cancer research www.icr.ac.uk/everyman

For in-depth information, please visit the AIM-Gateway site at www.aim-digest.com/gateway/