[Health Tip] Even Small Amounts of Alcohol Are 'Forbidden' with High Blood Sugar... "Increases Risk of Bile Duct Cancer"

Samsung Seoul Hospital and Korea University Ansan Hospital Research Team
Drinking Just 2-3 Glasses of Soju Increases Risk of Pre-Diabetes Bile Duct Cancer by 20%
Diabetes Patients Have 58% and 45% Higher Risk of Bile Duct and Gallbladder Cancer
"If Blood Sugar Is High, You Should Quit Drinking Completely"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A study has found that even 2 to 3 glasses of soju or beer significantly increase the risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma in individuals with prediabetes or diabetes.

Professor Hong Jeong-yong of the Hematology-Oncology Department at Samsung Seoul Hospital and Professor Park Joo-hyun of the Family Medicine Department at Korea University Ansan Hospital analyzed data from 9.52 million people who underwent health checkups through the National Health Insurance Service in 2009, revealing these findings on the 29th.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer that occurs in the bile ducts and gallbladder, with an average survival rate of only 12 months, making it highly fatal. Until now, the association between light alcohol consumption and the risk of cholangiocarcinoma was unclear.

According to the research team, the average age of all study participants was 47 years, and during an average follow-up period of 8.2 years, 21,079 individuals were diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. When analyzing these individuals based on drinking habits and blood glucose levels, it was found that even light alcohol consumption promotes the development of cholangiocarcinoma in people with prediabetes or diabetes.

Using people with normal fasting blood glucose levels below 100 mg/dL who did not drink alcohol as the reference group, the risk of bile duct cancer increased by 20% in prediabetes patients (100?125 mg/dL) who consumed a mild to moderate amount of alcohol equivalent to 2 to 3 glasses of soju per day (less than 30g of alcohol). Notably, for the same amount of alcohol, the risk increased by 58% in diabetes patients (126 mg/dL or higher).

Moreover, the risk surged further when high-risk drinking of more than 30g of alcohol daily was sustained. The risk of bile duct cancer increased by 46% in prediabetes patients and by 104% in diabetes patients under high-risk drinking conditions.

Gallbladder cancer showed a similar trend. The moment people with prediabetes or diabetes started drinking, the risk of gallbladder cancer rose by 18% and 45%, respectively. With high-risk drinking, the risk increased by 43% in prediabetes patients and 65% in diabetes patients.

Professor Hong emphasized, “The first step for people with prediabetes or diabetes to prevent cholangiocarcinoma is to abstain from alcohol,” adding, “Those with high blood glucose levels should completely stop drinking.”

This study was recently published in the 'Journal of Clinical Oncology (IF=50.7)', one of the world’s leading academic journals in the field of oncology.

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