Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk

Two studies have reported that moderate alcohol consumption appears to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

In “Moderate Alcohol Consumption Protects Against Colorectal Adenoma, ”  Dr. Gregory Austin of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his colleagues  found from an analysis of a case control study of 725 patients who underwent a full colonoscopy that abstainers or non-drinkers had a 40% higher risk of adenoma than did those who consumed beer, wine, or liquor (distilled spirits) in moderation.

This is consistent with another study published by  Dr. Joseph C. Anderson, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, who found  that the moderate consumption of red wine reduced the incidence of abnormal growths and cancers of the intestinal tract by two-thirds.