Even Drinking 2-3 Small Glasses Frequently Is Risky... "46% Increase in Stomach Cancer Risk with Alcohol Consumption 5 Times a Week"

120,000 People Followed Up... "Must Abstain from Alcohol the Day After Drinking"

A study has found that even light drinking can increase the risk of stomach cancer if the frequency increases. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A study has found that even light drinking of 2 to 3 drinks or less per day increases the risk of stomach cancer by 46% if the frequency of drinking increases.

On the 27th, Professor Kang Dae-hee's research team (Dr. Lee Hwi-won, doctoral candidate Hwang Dan) from the Department of Preventive Medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine conducted a follow-up study over 8.6 years on 128,218 healthy middle-aged adults aged 40 to 69 who participated in an urban-based epidemiological study from 2004 to 2013. The results revealed that even light drinking can increase the risk of stomach cancer if the frequency of drinking rises.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines light drinking as consuming less than 40g of alcohol at one time. Forty grams of alcohol corresponds to approximately 2 to 3 drinks at the low end, and up to 4 drinks when drinking soju or beer.

During the follow-up period, a total of 847 stomach cancer cases (462 men, 385 women) were identified. When divided into drinking and non-drinking groups, a significant 31% higher risk of stomach cancer was observed in the male drinking group compared to the non-drinking group. However, no association was found in women.

For men, the risk of developing stomach cancer increased proportionally with each additional drinking occasion per week and with every 10g increase in alcohol consumed per session.

In particular, even light drinking was identified as a major factor that significantly raises the risk of stomach cancer. The research team estimated that if alcohol consumption is less than 40g per day but drinking occurs five or more times per week, the risk of stomach cancer increases by 46%.

Professor Kang Dae-hee explained, "While previous studies focused on the association between stomach cancer and heavy drinking, this study is meaningful in that it newly reveals through a large-scale epidemiological study that people who frequently drink even small amounts of alcohol may also have an increased risk of stomach cancer.".

He added, "This study shows that improper drinking habits increase the risk of stomach cancer among middle-aged and older men in Korea. If you drink, do not be complacent just because the amount is small; even with light drinking, it is important to allow enough time for alcohol to be metabolized in the body by abstaining from drinking the next day."

The results of this study were published in the latest issue of the international academic journal Cancer Biology & Medicine.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.