To Drink or Not to Drink? Investigating Alcohol’s Impact on Prostate Cancer Risk
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a significant global health issue. The relationship between alcohol consumption and PCa risk has been the subject of extensive research, yet findings remain inconsistent. This review aims to clarify the association between alcohol intake and PCa risk, its aggressiveness, and the potential metabolic pathways involved in PCa onset.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed and MEDLINE, focusing on epidemiological studies, meta-analyses, cohort studies, and case-control studies. Studies evaluating alcohol consumption, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and PCa risk were included. The review also explored the roles of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in alcohol metabolism.
RESULTS: The analysis reveals a complex relationship between alcohol consumption and PCa. Heavy alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of PCa, particularly more aggressive forms, and higher mortality rates. However, studies also show weak or no association between moderate alcohol consumption and PCa. The variability in findings may be attributed to differences in alcohol types, regional factors, and study methodologies.
CONCLUSIONS: The link between alcohol consumption and PCa risk is multifaceted. While heavy drinking appears to increase the risk of aggressive PCa, the overall relationship remains unclear. Further research is needed to better understand these associations and inform public health recommendations and cancer prevention strategies.
Additional Info
-
Authors
Kaltsas A.; Chrisofos M.; Symeonidis E. N.; Zachariou A.; Stavropoulos M.; Kratiras Z.; Giannakodimos I.; Symeonidis A.; Dimitriadis F.; Sofikitis N. -
Issue
Periodical: Cancers (Basel) - Volume: 16 - Number: 20 - Edition: 20241012 -
Published Date
12 october 2024
Related items
- Association between drinking patterns and diabetic kidney disease in United States adults: a cross-sectional study based on data from NHANES 1999-2016
- Commentary: remaining questions on moderate alcohol drinking and cancer risk
- Alcohol Intake, Drinking Pattern, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Three Prospective Cohorts of U.S. Women and Men
- Effect of moderate wine consumption on the activity of enzymes involved in Platelet Activating Factor metabolism and thrombotic biomarkers: A randomized, single-blind, parallel, clinical study in coronary heart disease men patients
- Healthy lifestyle factors and combined macrovascular and microvascular events in diabetes patients with high cardiovascular risk: results from ADVANCE