BY Jimmy Downs

Saturday Jan 12, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A report in Maedica again reminds readers of the cancer-causing risk of alcoholic beverages, which have been recognized by the United States National Toxicology Program and other organizations as human carcinogens.

G. Testino from S. Martino Hospital - IRCCS in Genova, Italy says in his report that all types of alcoholic beverages are associated with increased risk of many cancers.

The author cites the International Agency for Research for Cancer as classifying alcohol consumption and acetaldehyde - metabolite of alcohol as human carcinogens that cause cancers in sites including the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colon/rectum, liver and female breast.

It has not completely clear how alcoholic beverages cause cancers.  But alcohol can be converted in vivo into carcinogen acetaldehyde, increase estrogen concentration, increase absorption of tobacco carcinogens, cause the production of reactive oxygen species and lead to abnormal folate metabolism, all of which can increase risk of cancer.

The author also reports that the carcinogenic effect of alcoholic beverages is dose-dependent, which means that high intake leads to high risk of cancer, particularly for cancers like oral cancer, esophageal cancer and colon cancer.  But it is unknown if there is a safe threshold for alcohol consumption.

Although in healthy subjects, European Code Against Cancer recommends consumption of no more than two drinks for man and one drink for women per day, the author says "In our opinion, there are not enough data to support the actually safe intake of alcohol. Any level of alcohol consumption increase the risk of developing an alcohol related cancer. The level of risk increases in line with the level consumption."