Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: A Global Perspective


The Second Expert Report involved thousands of studies and hundreds of experts from around the world. First, a task force established a uniform and scientific method to collect the relevant evidence. Next, independent research teams from universities and research centers around the world collected all relevant literature on 17 different cancers, along with research on causes of obesity, cancer survivors and other reports on chronic diseases. In the final step, an independent panel of 21 world-renowned scientists assessed and evaluated the vast body of evidence.

C H A P T E R 4 • F O O D S A N D D R I N K S

4.8 Alcoholic Drinks pp 157-171

Overall, the Panel judges that alcoholic drinks are a cause of cancers of a number of sites and that, in general, the evidence is stronger than it was in the mid-1990s. The evidence does not show any ‘safe limit’ of intake. The effect is from ethanol, irrespective of the type of drink. Ethanol is classified by the International Agency for Cancer Research as a human carcinogen.

The Panel judges as follows: The evidence that alcoholic drinks are a cause of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx, oesophagus, colorectum (men), and breast is convincing. They are probably a cause of liver cancer, and of colorectal cancer in women. It is unlikely that alcoholic drinks have a substantial adverse effect on the risk of kidney cancer.

In final summary, the evidence is that alcoholic drinks are a cause of cancers of the mouth pharynx, and larynx; the oesophagus; the colorectum in men, and the breast; and probably of iver cancer and colorectal cancer in women. It is unlikely that alcoholic drinks have a substantial adverse effect on the risk of kidney cancer.

C H A P T E R 1 2 • P U B L I C H E A L T H G O A L S A N D P E R S O N A L R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S

Recommendation 6 pg 384
If alcoholic drinks are consumed, limit consumption to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women

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