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American Gastroenterological Association
Moderate Alcohol Consumption Protects Against Colorectal Adenomas
In illnesses from cardiovascular disease to cancer, studies on alcohol consumption have revealed a wide spectrum of risks and benefits. Researchers from the University of
North Carolina took a closer look at the effects of alcohol consumption on the risk of colorectal adenomas (polyps) and found that, surprisingly, moderate amounts of alcohol may have a protective effect
against colorectal adenomas, a potential precursor to colorectal cancer.
Although previous analyses have identified an increased risk of colon cancer in conjunction with excessive alcohol consumption, only a few have examined in-depth the
relationship between the amount of alcohol intake and the corresponding risk of colorectal adenomas and cancers.
To evaluate risk factors for colorectal adenomas, researchers implemented a case-control study of 725 eligible patients – 203 case and 522 controls. After undergoing a
colonoscopy, participants were divided into five groups based on the average number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week: 1) 0 drinks per week; 2) >0 and <2 drinks per week; 3) 2 to <7 drinks
per week (moderate drinkers); 4) 7 to <14 drinks per week; and 5) =14 drinks per week. The results were adjusted for the effects age, gender, body mass index (BMI), use of non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory medications, race, and smoking status. When compared to non-drinkers and heavy drinkers, moderate drinkers (between >0 and <2 and 2 to<7 drinks per week) had the lowest
adjusted probability of having an adenoma. Using moderate drinkers (>0 and <2 drinks per week) as the reference group, researchers found that non-drinkers were 41 percent more likely to have a
colorectal adenoma. Patients consuming 7 to 14 drinks per week were 65 percent more likely to have an adenoma, and those consuming more than 14 drinks per week were two and a half times more likely to
have an adenoma.
"Consuming alcohol within a moderate limit may be beneficial to the colon, but we cannot assume that the rate of alcohol consumption is the only factor," said
Gregory Austin, M.D., of the University of North Carolina and lead study author. "It is vital that researchers take a broader approach into understanding the development of colorectal adenomas and
the range of effects that various lifestyle choices or habits may have."
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