A large global study has found a small but clear link between alcohol intake and pancreatic cancer risk. The research pooled data from four continents and was published in PLOS Medicine.
Pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer worldwide. It causes 5% of all cancer deaths, mostly due to late diagnosis.
Europe, North America, Australia, and East Asia have four to five times higher rates of pancreatic cancer than other regions. Smoking, obesity, diabetes, and chronic pancreatitis are known risk factors.
Alcohol is classified as a carcinogen, but its link to pancreatic cancer has been unclear. Past studies showed mixed results, varying by drink type and region.
This new study analyzed data from 30 studies across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. It included nearly 2.5 million people without cancer at the start.
Researchers collected self-reported alcohol intake through questionnaires. They identified 10,067 pancreatic cancer cases over 15 years of follow-up.
The study found a 3% increased pancreatic cancer risk for every 10 grams of daily alcohol consumed. This risk was the same for men and women, smokers and non-smokers.
Light drinkers (0.1 to less than 5 grams daily) were the comparison group to avoid bias from former drinkers. The study adjusted for smoking, diabetes, body mass, and other factors.
The link between alcohol and cancer was seen in Europe, Australia, and North America but not in Asia. This may be due to fewer drinkers, genetic differences, and lower Asian participation.
Beer and liquor were linked to higher cancer risk, but wine showed no significant effect. Genetics play a role in alcohol metabolism, especially in Asians, who often have enzyme variants that cause flushing and reduce drinking.
Alcohol can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage, all of which may harm the pancreas and increase cancer risk.
Importantly, smoking did not change the alcohol-cancer link. This means alcohol’s effect on pancreatic cancer is independent of smoking, although smoking remains a strong risk factor.
The study only looked at alcohol intake at one point in adulthood and had few Asian participants. Researchers call for future studies on lifetime drinking and drinking patterns like binge drinking.
