Selbst ein geringer täglicher Alkoholkonsum (nur 9 g oder etwa 1 Standardgetränk) ist in Indien mit einem um 50 % erhöhten Risiko für Mundkrebs (Mundschleimhautkrebs) verbunden, wobei das Risiko bei lokal gebrautem Alkohol am größten ist. Studie legt nahe, dass es möglicherweise keine sichere Grenze für den Alkoholkonsum im Hinblick auf das Mundkrebsrisiko gibt.

I’ve linked to the press release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/12/e017392

From the linked article:

**Even a low daily intake of alcohol—-just 9 g or around one standard drink—is linked to a 50% heightened risk of mouth (buccal mucosa) cancer in India, with the greatest risk associated with locally brewed alcohol**, finds a large comparative study, published online in the open access journal BMJ Global Health.

And when combined with chewing tobacco, it likely accounts for 62% of all such cases in India, the findings suggest.

Frequent alcohol consumption was associated with a heightened risk of buccal mucosa cancer, with locally brewed drinks associated with the greatest risk.

Compared with those who didn’t drink alcohol, the risk was 68% higher for those who did, rising to 72% for those favouring internationally recognised alcohol types, and to 87% for those opting for locally brewed drinks.

As little as under 2 g a day of beer was associated with a heightened risk of buccal mucosa cancer. And just 9 g a day of alcohol—equivalent to around one standard drink—-was associated with an approximately 50% increased risk.

Concurrent alcohol and tobacco use was associated with a more than quadrupling in risk, such that 62% of all buccal mucosa cancer cases in India are likely attributable to the interaction between alcohol and chewing tobacco, calculate the researchers.

They conclude: “In summary, **our study demonstrates that there is no safe limit of alcohol consumption for [buccal mucosa cancer] risk**…Our findings suggest that public health action towards prevention of alcohol and tobacco use could largely eliminate [buccal mucosa cancer] from India.”

Ok but does „locally brewed“ mean moonshine? Because that wouldn’t be surprising RE Risks ^50%

Does alcohol containing mouthwash count?

This is gonna be highly anecdotal so feel free to remove, but I live in a country where casual drinking is extremely common (think a beer or a glass of wine with lunch or after coming home from work, nearly every day) and I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone with mouth cancer. Obviously we all know alcohol is a carcinogen, but it would be interesting to hear 1. what that absolutely risk this is raising by 50% is (presumably extremely low?) 2. and whether the conclusion can be extended to the general population or is more like „don’t drink the weird moonshine your neighbour gives you (or maybe just any local alcohol in countries with questionable food safety regulations)“. 

Why would you post this on Boxing Day? Probably one of the more booze heavy days in the UK