Source The Guardian
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has pinpointed the level of drinking implicated in liver cancer after undertaking what it says was the biggest review so far of the evidence on the relationship between diet, weight, physical activity and the disease.
Its assessment of 34 previous studies covering 8.2 million people, more than 24,500 of whom had liver cancer, revealed “strong evidence” linking intake of three drinks a day to the disease.
“Around three or more drinks per day can be enough to cause liver cancer,” said Amanda Mclean, director of the charity’s UK branch. “Until now we were uncertain about the amount of alcohol likely to lead to liver cancer. But the research reviewed in this report is strong enough, for the first time, to be more specific about this.”
The WCRF’s findings prompted the Alcohol Health Alliance, a coalition of health organisations, to claim that alcohol is so toxic that cans and bottles should carry health warnings.
“Alcohol, like tobacco and asbestos, is a class 1 carcinogen and it is totally unacceptable that the public is not provided with such basic information”, said Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, the alliance’s chair.
On the flip side...
The WCRF’s analysis also found strong evidence that coffee could help protect against liver cancer, though it did not specify the amounts someone needs to drink.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 26 2015, @10:33AM
My partner insists on drinking three drinks a day. That's not much, she claims, although it's 3x 440ml cans, so it is in effect four standard drinks a day.
She'll just deny this, tell me the researchers are wrong because if it's right how come we're allowed to buy alcohol, and on top of that, her mother will disagree so that's clearly the researchers at fault, not the 75 year old woman who works as a cleaner
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 26 2015, @11:23AM
Make the most of it while you can
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Thursday March 26 2015, @04:22PM
Genetics probably plays a role and if her mother drank that much and is still alive and working at 75, don't worry about it.
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Thursday March 26 2015, @11:48PM
I'm sure genetics plays a part in this, but most traits aren't determined by single genes, and even if it were there'd be only a 50% chance that she was also in the "no worries" crowd. Most characteristics are determined by a fairly large ensemble of genes, and it's usually difficult to guess the chance of inheriting any particular characteristic. Eye and hair color are clear exceptions, and simple blood type is an exception (actual blood type is a lot more than just A, B, O, +/-), as you'll find out if you ever need an organ transplant (except cornea, or a couple of other safe tissues).
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 27 2015, @03:18AM
Because substance legality has nothing to do with safety or toxicity. Tylenol is more toxic than MDMA and heroin, and alcohol is far more toxic than marijuana and cocaine.