Just one beer dramatically increases prostate cancer risks, research shows

DRINKING just one beer can dramatically increase a man’s chance of developing prostate cancer, startling new research shows.

Even a single beer increases your risk of prostate cancer.

DRINKING just one beer can dramatically increase a man’s chance of developing prostate cancer, startling new research shows.

Researchers say there is a “clear link” between the cancer, which kills more than 3000 Aussie men every year, and even modest amounts of drinking.

A single glass of beer, wine or spirits every couple of weeks can increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer by almost 10 per cent, the Curtin University study shows.

Alcohol policy team leader at Curtin University Tanya Chikritzhs said health professionals needed to completely rethink their stance on low-level alcohol consumption.

“The risk begins with the first drink, or even the first half of a drink, so there’s no point at which we can say there is zero risk of cancer, or prostate cancer,” Prof Chikritzhs said.

“Even as low as one drink every 10 days, up to about two drinks a day, your risk is increased by about eight per cent, compared to someone who has never drank alcohol.

“By the time you get to five standard drinks or more a day, then your increased risk is about 18 per cent, compared to someone who has never drank alcohol.

“It’s pretty clear there’s a strong relationship between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer.”

The study, which was conducted alongside the Centre for Addictions Research at the University of Victoria in Canada, found it took as little as an average of 1.3g of alcohol a day to increase a man’s chance of prostate cancer by eight per cent.

Prof Chikritzhs said the findings could have considerable impact on teachings among health professionals that low level drinking was safe.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Australia, and is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in men worldwide.

“Past and future studies which demonstrate protection from disease due to low level drinking should be treated with caution,” Prof Chikritzhs said.

“We now have a whole range of cancers which are on the list now in relation to being caused by alcohol, including mouth cancer, throat cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, probably gastric cancer, breast cancer, and now, prostate cancer.

“Alcohol consumption will need to be factored in to future estimates of the global burden of disease.

“These findings also highlight the need for better methods in research on alcohol and health.”

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