An epidemiological study conducted in Quzhou, China, has revealed significant findings about the relationship between alcohol consumption and colorectal cancer risk, with a particular focus on differences between men and women. Led by Dr. Hong-Hong Zhu from the Zhejiang Chinese Medical University Affiliated Four- Province-Bordering Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the study was published in Preventive Medicine Reports. The research explored whether alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and if this association varies by sex.
The study was part of a large screening program for colorectal cancer in Quzhou, involving participants aged between middle and older adulthood. The researchers compared individuals with incident colorectal cancer to those without any colorectal diseases. Various drinking habits were analyzed, including current and former drinking status, how often alcohol consumed, and the type of alcohol consumed.
The study’s findings highlighted a clear difference between men and women regarding the association between alcohol consumption and colorectal cancer risk. In women, the link between alcohol and colorectal cancer was much stronger. Women who were current drinkers faced a significantly higher risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to never-drinkers. On the other hand, men who were current drinkers showed no significant increase in their risk.
One particularly notable finding was the relationship between whisky consumption and colorectal cancer risk. For men, the study found a J-shaped pattern where less than 0.5 Liter/week whisky significantly lowered the risk of CRC but 1.5 or more Liter/week whisky significantly increased the risk.In contrast, women showed a steady increase in colorectal cancer risk as their whisky intake increased, with the risk rising substantially for those who consumed more than moderate amounts.
How often alcohol was consumed also played a role, especially among women. Those who drank more frequently saw a significant increase in their risk of colorectal cancer. The study also found that drinking for longer periods posed a much higher risk for women compared to men, further emphasizing the differences in how alcohol affects men and women.
“This study provides crucial evidence that women may be more sensitive to the harmful effects of alcohol than men,” could explain this disparity, although further research is needed to fully understand the reasons. Interestingly, former drinkers—regardless of gender—showed a higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to current drinkers, possibly indicating that those who quit drinking were once heavier drinkers.
The study’s findings are particularly important for public health, especially in China, where drinking habits have been increasing. Men, in particular, were found to have a much higher prevalence of alcohol consumption compared to women. Additionally, men began drinking at a younger age, drank more frequently, and continued to drink for longer periods of their lives.
In conclusion, the study highlights the increased risk that alcohol consumption poses for colorectal cancer, particularly for women. The researchers suggest that women should be more cautious about their alcohol intake, and public health efforts should focus on reducing alcohol consumption to lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
Journal Reference
Lai, S.-M., Zhu, H.-H., Gan, Z.-J., Zheng, B.-Y., Xu, Z.-H., Wang, Z.-C., & Liao, X.-F. (2024). “Sex difference in alcohol consumption associated with colorectal cancer risk in Quzhou, China: A nested case-control study.” Preventive Medicine Reports, 44, 102807. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102807
About the Author
Professor Zhu is Head of the Center for Medical Research, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University Affiliated Four-Province-Bordering Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She had 32 years’ experience of doing research on disease etiology and prevention and teaching epidemiology in Zhejiang University, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and others. She
obtained Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the JHU Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2007 and had postdoctoral training at NIH. She also obtained M.D. and Master’s Degree of Medicine from Zhejiang University and M.Sc. from Clemson University. She is the first researcher to have raised the etiological theory of breast cancer pandemic: Synergistic interactions between environmental carcinogens and exogenous hormone use. She has been studying colorectal cancer prevention for 32 years. She and her team have found innovative and more cost-effective mass colorectal cancer screening methods/strategies which have saved millions of lives. She has published 135 publications. She obtained 36 academic awards and honors, including the Best Poster Award nominated by the NIH scientists for her study on the breast cancer etiology in 2006, Delta Omega Honor from the US National Public Health Honor Society, winning the Second Place in the Scientific Competition in the field of Epidemiology and Public Health, in 2007, being recognized as Professor Of Extraordinary Ability in 2015, Elected Membership of Sigma Xi The Scientific Research Honor Society in August, 2024, and nominated Best Researcher Award for the “International Research Awards on Oncology and Cancer Research” in September, 2024. She was nominated as Editor-In-Chief by the Journal of GHR in 2015. She was participating in reviewing grant proposals for the US Department of HHS for 12 years and peer reviewers for many academic journals for more than two decades.
