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. 2016 Dec:45:181-188.
doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2016.09.011. Epub 2016 Nov 2.

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

Chiara Scoccianti  1 , Michele Cecchini  2 , Annie S Anderson  3 , Franco Berrino  4 , Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault  5 , Carolina Espina  1 , Timothy J Key  6 , Michael Leitzmann  7 , Teresa Norat  8 , Hilary Powers  9 , Martin Wiseman  10 , Isabelle Romieu  11
Affiliations
Free article

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

Chiara Scoccianti et al. Cancer Epidemiol. 2016 Dec.
Free article

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is the third leading risk factor for disease and mortality in Europe. As evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs, a causal relationship is established for consumption of alcoholic beverages and cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum and female breast, even at low and moderate alcohol intakes. The higher the amount of alcohol consumed, the higher the risk of developing cancer. In Europe, an estimated 10% (95% CI: 7%-13%) of all cancer cases in men and 3% (95% CI: 1%-5%) of all cancer cases in women are attributable to alcohol consumption. 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 European Code against Cancer is: "If you drink alcohol of any type, limit your intake. Not drinking alcohol is better for cancer prevention."

Keywords: Acetaldehyde; Alcohol drinking; Cancer; Disease; Ethanol; Europe; Primary prevention.

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