Daily Alcohol Consumption Linked to Increased Mouth Cancer Risk
A recent study has found that even minimal daily alcohol consumption can notably heighten the risk of mouth cancer. Specifically, drinking 9 grams of alcohol each day—slightly more than one standard drink—correlates with a 50% increase in the likelihood of developing this serious disease.
Published in BMJ Global Health, the research suggests that daily alcohol intake, even in small quantities, poses substantial health risks, particularly for individuals who favor traditional local beverages.
When compared to non-drinkers, the study revealed that the risk of mouth cancer increased by:
• 68% for general alcohol consumers,
• 72% for those who prefer widely recognized alcoholic drinks,
• 87% for users of traditional local beverages.
Notably, even consuming less than 2 grams of beer daily was linked to an increased risk.
The research was led by Dr. Sharayu Matre from the Department of Molecular Epidemiology and Population Genomics at the Cancer Research Center in Maharashtra, India. It involved a comparison of 1,803 confirmed cases of oral cavity cancer with 1,903 healthy individuals as a control group, conducted from 2010 to 2021 across five different centers.
Results indicated that most participants were aged between 35 and 54, with a significant portion of cases (approximately 46%) occurring in individuals aged 25 to 45, underscoring the disease's risk even among younger populations.
In related findings, data from the Oral Cancer Foundation in the UK reported 10,825 new mouth cancer cases diagnosed last year, resulting in 3,637 deaths—more than the combined fatalities from cervical and testicular cancers.
This study reinforces existing medical warnings regarding daily alcohol consumption, affirming that even small amounts carry risks and contributing to a deeper understanding of the connection between alcohol and mouth cancer, particularly in communities that consume local drinks.
