Alcohol linked to more cancers than thought, study finds
Consuming alcohol increases the risk of getting more cancers than previously thought, according to a major study, which also found that drinking coffee protects against liver cancer.
Alcohol consumption is linked to several cancers including those of the head and neck – mouth, pharynx and larynx – oesophageal and bowel, along with the more widely known connection with breast and liver cancer, according to an international team led by Imperial College London.
The study also showed that drinking at least one cup of coffee daily is associated with a lower risk of developing liver cancer and basal cell carcinoma of the skin, with the effects observed for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.
Giota Mitrou, the director of research and innovation at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), which funded the research, said: “This umbrella review confirms the evidence we have for alcohol and coffee in relation to cancer.
“Further research needs to better understand the mechanisms involved in the links between coffee and cancer as well as between alcohol and different cancer subtypes.”
