A US study finds light drinking linked only to minimal increase in risk of all cancers but daily drink raises chances of breast cancer for women significantly. It is based on the Study on light to moderate intake of alcohol, drinking patterns, and risk of cancer with results from two prospective US cohort studies. (Light drinking defined as up to one standard drink a day for women and two drinks for men)
The study was carried out by a team of researchers based at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. They used data from two large US studies – the Nurses Health Study for women (this has been used extensively for many studies-editor) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study for men. These tracked the health of 88,084 women and 47,881 men for up to 30 years. The researchers assessed the risk of total cancer as well as known alcohol-related cancers including cancer of the colorectum, female breast, liver, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus.
Also visit http://www.bmj.com or details.
The Report quotes Dr Jürgen Rehm at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto who reportedly says, “Light to moderate drinking should be limited to no more than 10g of pure alcohol a day for women and 20g for men (roughly one standard drink a day for women and two standard drinks for men, as defined in most countries).
In contrast, the report in the zeenews appears to be bold and bizarre; at the very least it is baseless. The Article declares that ‘wine Prevents cancer: Drinking red wine lowers the risk of breast cancer in women and it contains guercetin which prevents lung cancer.’ It lists other benefits of wine drinking which are attributed to good health, like heart and skin which are likely to be true but not factually conclusive so far.
While it is perhaps factually incorrect and contradictory, the zeenews article is bold and bizarre as it makes it look like an established fact. To a novice or many readers, it would leave an incorrect and dangerous impression on the mind that it is a proved medical fact. At the least, it will create some doubt in the mind of sceptics, falsely believing that wine or alcohol is in fact beneficial for breast cancer.
Another baseless reporting is that red wine‘prevents tooth decay: Red wine is good for teeth because the polyphenols found in it reduces gum inflammation and prevents gum diseases. So one should drink red wine to have strong and pearly white teeth. If’ the author had any experience of wine tasting, she would know that teeth and tongue become awfully ugly with the reddish black tinge due to the tannins with red wine. There has been no reliable study, according to my knowledge, that has been conclusive that the teeth become healthy or strong and pearly white with red wine. In fact, several dentists claim that the acidity in the wine is not good for the enamel of the teeth and one must brush one’s teeth at night, particularly after drinking a lot of wine.
It does not mention that it is based on some study, leave alone cautioning the reader that it may be the personal opinion of the author and not a factual report by the news agency. Such reports may be acceptable from bloggers who are known to express what they think, but not for regular media, like Zee News. To the best of my knowledge there has been no study showing that red wine or any wine reduces the risk of breast cancer among women.
The report clearly is factually and medically incorrect and wine can lead to higher chances of breast cancer according to a few studies on the subject. I believe that both the agency and the author are liable to be prosecuted for publishing false information causing potential harm to the body and need to be careful. Such bizarre and sensational report must mention that it is the author’s opinion, at the very least. Freedom of Press is very important but it’s also responsible to present facts or at least give only opinions.
After French Paradox
The study really validates several earlier studies on the subject. I have attended a couple of Heart and Health International Conferences in California-attended by international heart specialists and also met in 2002, the late Dr. Serge Reynaud who revolutionised the red wine industry by coining the term French Paradox on 60 Minutes TV program in November 1991 along with Dr Curt Ellison who has been one of the pioneers in wine -heart health studies. They had averred for the first time that red wine was good for the heart based on studies done on French from the South.
It was pointed out in the 2-day conference that ‘the risk of breast cancer goes up 10% with the first glass and 30% with the second’. More than that amount increased the risk tremendously. I discussed with Dr. Ellison who has been a pioneer in wine and heart studies. He also stressed that tor 1-2 glasses max the risk went down practically to zero with the daily consumption of folic acid. Later when I contacted him on how to take the acid, he told me that it can be taken in the shape of folate tablets which are cheap. I checked up with local doctors in Delhi and indeed they prescribe folates regularly for the pregnant women in India. A strip of 12 used to cost around Rs. 12 only.
Later when I conducted a seminar in May 2003 and titled it as <' The French Paradox’- Myth or Reality-Twelve Years Later> at the French Embassy in Delhi, as the founder President of the Delhi Wine Club, I stressed this controversial point for women. One lady doctor admonished me by saying I had no business to scare women about cancer-only a qualified doctor could do it. But my advice to women has always been to consult their doctors and TAKE FOLATE TABLETS DAILY IF THEY DRINK WINE AND LIMIT TO TWO DRINKS-preferably one every day, and no more.
While it is interesting that nothing substantial has changed in terms of discovery since the first Conference I attended in Napa in 2002, I always recommend one glass a day for women and tell them to check with their doctor, and two glasses for men.
And I recommend that media in India, ought not to take the subject of wine lightly or as casually as Zee News. In other countries they would have been sued by now. Let us not be casual about wine drinking beyond 2 glasses. Let us not be casual about reporting about wine in the media. These are early days and people are hungry for information on wine- but quality and authentic information whenever possible- from the published and online media.
This is what we strive for, at delWine.
Subhash Arora
As a policy, we do not like to comment on reports by any other media, but when we feel they are factually incorrect and potentially harmful for the health of the individuals or the wine education, we express our stand through this Blog which is a part of the Indian Wine Academy-editor |