Expert panel looked at data on over eight million people to come up with risk factors for the disease
THURSDAY, March 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People who have three or more alcoholic drinks per day could be raising their odds for liver cancer, according to a report from a panel of experts. On the other hand, the report, from the World Cancer Research Fund International, found “strong evidence” that drinking coffee might actually lower a person’s odds for liver cancer.
In drawing together the report, researchers tracked data on 8.2 million people who took part in 34 studies worldwide. There were a total of 24,500 liver cancer cases among the participants in the studies. The objective was to determine how diet, weight, and physical activity affect the risk of liver cancer. The studies were gathered and reviewed by a team at Imperial College London, and then independently assessed by a panel of international experts.
Along with the increased risk associated with having three or more alcoholic drinks a day, the investigators also found that being overweight or obese boosts the chances of developing liver cancer. One other major global culprit driving liver cancer: foods contaminated by aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are toxins produced by fungi, often resulting from the improper storage of food. These toxins are generally found in foods from warmer, developing regions of the world, the researchers said. Foods that may be affected by aflatoxins include cereals, spices, peanuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts, chili peppers, black pepper, dried fruit, and figs, according to the report.
The findings about coffee and overweight/obesity are new. The findings about alcoholic drinks and aflatoxins were in a 2007 report. According to the report’s authors, the risk of liver cancer can be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight and by either not drinking or limiting alcohol intake to a maximum of two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.
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