Each increase of 10 g/day of alcohol consumption, a standard glass of pure alcohol, is associated with a 3% increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer, concludes this work carried by the Agency of the World Health Organization (WHO).
In women, compared to low consumption (0.1 to 5 g/day), drinking 15 to 30 g/day of alcohol is associated with an increased risk of 12%. In men, consuming 30 to 60 g/day and more than 60 g/day is associated with increased risks of 15% and 36% respectively.
This study, published in the American scientific journal “PLOS Medicine” on May 20, provides “new evidence that pancreatic cancer could be another type of cancer associated with alcohol consumption, a link underestimated so far,” commented Dr. Pietro Ferrari, head of the Nutrition and Metabolism of the CIRS and the main author of the study, quoted in a press release.
A direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer has been established for seven cancers (colon-rectum, esophagus, liver, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, breast). But the evidence binding it specifically to pancreatic cancer had so far deemed limited or not conclusive.
Previous studies had suggested a role of alcohol in the development of pancreatic cancer at consumption levels exceeding 30 grams of ethanol per day (two standard alcoholic drinks). But this link among non -smokers or women had not been studied enough.
For this new study, scientists have gathered and harmonized the data of 30 population cohorts on four continents (Asia, Australia, North America), some 2.5 million people, at the median age 57 between 1980 and 2013, of which 10,067 developed pancreatic cancer.
Their alcohol consumption was evaluated at one moment, between the environment and the end of adulthood.
Pancreas cancer, the most common twelfth in the world, is responsible for around 5% of cancer deaths due in particular to its late diagnosis, noted the research center.
The causes of pancreatic cancer remaining poorly understood, despite certain established risk factors -Tabalism, excess of body fat, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes-, this study provides important information on the role of alcohol, judged Dr. Ferrari.