| Ch 2 | Page 4 / 13 | |
| Cancer prevention |
The role of alcohol | |
Alcohol consumption increases the effect of tobacco in the development of certain types of cancer :
- oral cavity,
- pharynx,
- oesophagus.
This fact has clearly been demonstrated in our region for oesophageal cancer.
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Increased tobacco effect with added alcohol consumption on
the relative risk of oesophagueal cancer. According to a study in Calvados by Tuyns A. et al |
As a single indication, here is the alcohol content of a few favourite beverages in our country:
| Type of beverage |
Alcohol
content |
| one glass of wine |
10,8 g |
| one bottle of beer |
13,2 g |
| one mug of cider |
8 g |
| one glass of whisky |
30 g |
| one glass of liqueur |
15,1 g |
| one glass of Calvados |
30 g |
However, consuming small quantities of alcoholic beverages, for non alcohol-dependent persons, does not bear a high mortality risk, but, on the contrary, may have a beneficial effect on cardio-vascular diseases.
In a recent study, with a humoristic title "One for the heart" R. Doll demonstrate that the 'French exception' has a scientific basis.
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Study of the mortality (annual death rate for 1,000 persons) according to daily alcohol consumption expressed in units (one unit = a pint of beer, a glass of wine, a whisky miniature). The French adage 'Le bon vin fait fuire le médecin' (good wine keeps the doctor away) is established for one glass of wine, but as soon as consumption increases (2 or 3 glass per meal), then the detrimental effect, alas, appears ! |
Contradictory to common belief, the quality of the alcoholic beverage (wine, beer, cider, whisky, and so on) does not influence the beneficial effect of a small quantity of alcohol.
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