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Alcohol, especially beer and spirits, can increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN press service reports.
The study, conducted by the WHO Cancer Research Centre, collected data from nearly 2.5 million people in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. It found a “small but significant” link between alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer risk, regardless of gender or whether a person smoked.
"It is well known that alcohol is a carcinogen, but until now the evidence linking it specifically to pancreatic cancer was considered inconclusive," said Pietro Ferrari, co-author of the study and head of the Nutrition and Metabolism Section at the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The pancreas is a vital organ that produces enzymes for digestion and hormones that regulate blood sugar levels. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer, mainly because it is detected at a late stage.
All drinkers are at risk The study found that every 10 grams of alcohol consumed per day caused a three percent increase in the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
For women, drinking 15 to 30 grams of alcohol per day increases the risk by 12 percent compared with light drinkers. Among men, those who drink 30 to 60 grams per day face a 15 percent increased risk, while men who drink more than 60 grams per day face a 36 percent increase.
Alcohol and tobacco "Alcohol is often consumed in combination with tobacco, which raises questions about whether smoking can worsen the negative effects of alcohol," said Pietro Ferrari. "However, our analysis showed that the association between alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer risk persists even in non-smokers, indicating that alcohol is an independent risk factor."
The expert added that more research is needed to better understand the impact of alcohol on health across the lifespan, including factors such as regular drinking and early onset of alcohol addiction.
A growing global problem Pancreatic cancer is the twelfth most common cancer worldwide, accounting for up to five percent of alcohol-related deaths.
In 2022, incidence and death rates from this cancer were five times higher in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, and East Asia than in other regions.
