Alcohol is a Carcinogen!

Life Extension’s November 2005 article on "Alcohol is a Carcinogen" reveals many facts little known to the general public. The problem of alcoholism has always interested me because I saw its destructive forces in my own family and friends. In my post-graduate work I took a course sponsored by the Alcohol Institute. We had the opportunity to learn first-hand the effects of alcohol on human functions and researched the many ways used to combat alcoholism. It had been associated with cirrhosis of the liver and brain cell damage. I had witnessed those conditions in family members and almost anyone can witness the effects that result in speech difficulties and control over the ability to walk and coordinate movement of the limbs as well as reaction time. So serious are the effects, that we tried to determine whether it was a disease, hereditary, or an acquired craving for a substance that caused serious problems in some while merely a social, cultural and traditional use in some families. Whatever the root cause of the drug abuse of alcohol, it inflicts a more insidious effect than previously known.
Epidemiological studies clearly show that those who consume large amount of alcohol have sharply increased risks of certain cancers.
Especially troubling are esophageal and brain cancers, both of which are increasing in frequency at an alarming rate. In women, even moderate alcohol consumption is linked with higher breast cancer incidence.
Most of the public is still unaware of the carcinogenic effects of excessive alcohol ingestion.
Despite its widespread use and social acceptance, alcohol is one of the 10 leading causes of death and injury in developed countries, according to the Institute for Alcohol Studies in Cambridgeshire, England. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths worldwide each year, with the highest proportions occurring in the Americas and Europe.
"Alcohol was estimated to cause worldwide, 20 - 30% of esophageal cancer, liver disease, epilepsy, motor vehicle accidents, and homicide and other intentional injuries," the WHO noted in its 2002 World Health Report. An estimated 63% of US adults drank alcohol in the past year. Alcohol abuse occurs in approximately 6% of Americans, and may affect 10-20% of the population at some point in their lives. Untreated alcoholism has been estimated to reduce life expectancy by as much as 15 years.
In its 2000 Report on Carcinogens, the US Department of Health and Human Services listed alcohol as a known human carcinogen that can cause cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx , and esophagus. The risk is greatest among smokers and heavy drinkers. Cancers of the oral cavity and upper airway frequently go undiscovered until their latter stages, when the death rate is very high; surgical treatment of these malignancies can cause disfigurement and difficulties with speech, chewing, and swallowing. The Report on Carcinogens further noted that evidence suggests a link between alcohol consumption and cancers of the liver and breast.
South American scientists reported in 2003 that Chileans who are heavy drinkers (defined as consuming more than 402 grams of alcohol per week) are significantly more likely to develop hemorrhagic stroke, "a major cause of disability and death worldwide." The more than fourfold increase in risk was independent of other factors, such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, or liver disease.
The use and misuse of alcohol may also wreak havoc with the brain and the nervous system. Peripheral neuropathy—marked by pain, tingling, and loss of sensation and muscle strength in the extremities—is often the first sign of alcohol dependence. Alcohol can also have extensive and far-reaching effects on the brain, including contributing to memory lapses and cognitive impairment.
Clearly, alcohol is a major toxin that can contribute to cancer, stroke, and neurodegenerative decline. Guarding against the effects of this lethal chemical is crucial to promoting optimal well-being. Other conditions, such as infection with the hepatitis B or C virus, obesity, type II diabetes, or exposure to toxins such as aflatoxin or vinyl chloride, may increase alcohol’s carcinogenic effects in a synergistic manner.
Because men produce more alcohol dehydrogenase in their stomachs and livers than women, they metabolize more alcohol during first-pass metabolism than women. Women, on the other hand, rely more heavily on the detoxification capacity of their livers. Due to this gender-related difference, women are affected more profoundly than men by equivalent doses of alcohol, and are also more susceptible than men to the threat of developing fatter liver, and brain damage when they drink.
Because alcohol has substantial caloric value (7.1 calories per gram), it may displace ordinary nutrients in the diet, including antioxidants such as vitamin C, thereby causing primary malnutrition. Secondary malnutrition can occur later in the course of chronic alcohol use, when food is no longer properly digested and absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract.
My own observation of alcoholics was that they were usually addicted to smoking and were wrinkled and slurred in their speech. Many complain of gaining weight when they cease smoking and there may be a link between the consumption of alcohol and smoking. More recently we see that addictions such as drinking, smoking and gambling seem to have a strong connection and that is purely an observation I have made over a lifetime of experience with family and friends with these addictions.
There is so much more on the subject, but it is just too comprehensive for this type of presentation. For more information you can try the web site at www.lef.org which has listed at least 111 sources for the November, 2005 article entitled "Alcohol is a Carcinogen!" (A Little Known Fact).
As another observation, it is interesting to add that I have found that these addictive personalities are often connected with people who I have found entertaining, intelligent, successful, talented and driven to many fields of endeavor. This is not meant to encourage the abusive intake and addiction, but merely to point out that there is the "blessing and the curse" of the gifts they are given. I was always amazed at the connection - in those I have known and loved. Many of them died young and left loved ones well before their time. For this reason, I remain determined in my quest to help people find the facts on nutrition and healthy eating and I appreciate the many sources for the information I share with you through this medium.