Even with the Same Alcohol Intake... "Diabetes Patients Have 3 Times Higher Risk of Liver Cancer"

Domestic Researchers Analyze Correlation Between Blood Sugar and Alcohol
"Diabetes and Prediabetes Patients Should Actively Abstain from Alcohol"

A study has found that people with high fasting blood sugar levels have a higher risk of liver cancer than those with lower blood sugar levels, even when consuming the same amount of alcohol.

A joint research team led by Professors Yoo Soo-jong and Cho Eun-joo of Seoul National University Hospital, Professor Jung Go-eun of Gangnam Center, and Professor Han Kyung-do of Soongsil University analyzed the association between alcohol consumption and liver cancer risk according to blood sugar levels in 9,387,670 adults who participated in the national health screening in 2009, and announced this correlation on the 11th.

The research team divided the subjects into three groups based on fasting blood glucose levels measured during the health screening: △normal blood sugar △prediabetes △diabetes. Each group was further classified into △non-drinkers △light-to-moderate drinkers △heavy drinkers according to the weekly alcohol consumption recorded in self-reported questionnaires.

Drinking [Image source=Yonhap News]

In all groups?non-drinkers, light-to-moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers?the higher the fasting blood sugar level, the greater the risk of liver cancer. In particular, the diabetes group showed a sharp increase in risk compared to the other two groups.

In other words, even when drinking the same amount of alcohol, people with higher blood sugar levels were found to have a higher risk of liver cancer. The risk in the normal blood sugar heavy drinking group increased by 1.39 times compared to the normal blood sugar non-drinking group, whereas the risk in the diabetes heavy drinking group was as high as 3.29 times.

Regarding these results, the research team explained, "Diabetes patients have a high risk of liver cancer regardless of alcohol consumption," and added, "People diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes need to actively abstain from alcohol to prevent liver cancer."

Professor Yoo Soo-jong emphasized, "The same amount of alcohol consumption can significantly increase liver cancer risk depending on an individual's blood sugar status," and stressed, "A personalized approach to liver cancer prevention is necessary."

Meanwhile, according to national cancer registration statistics, liver cancer ranks as the seventh most common cancer in South Korea. It is a fatal disease with six out of ten patients dying within five years, but since symptoms appear late, special caution is required.

The study results were published online in the international medical journal PLOS Medicine.

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