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According to American researchers, seniors who drink a small amount of alcohol – one glass a day – are more likely to die of cancer than those who drink occasionally.
Like many French people, do you like to have a little drink? Be aware that from a certain age – 60 years old to be exact – it would be better to avoid consuming them, at the risk of increasing your risk of cancer, heart disease or any other cause of death, according to a recent study by JAMA Network Open.
Seniors may be more sensitive to the effects of alcohol
Despite what mojito and negroni addicts might say, abstention is on the rise! At least among the youngest, according to a survey Gallup published last Tuesday. Young people are indeed the most likely to shun alcohol to preserve their health, with 65% of them sharing this opinion, compared to 37% of adults aged 35 to 54 and 39% of adults aged 55 and over.
The problem? While older people may seem to enjoy wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages more, they are not immune to the damage caused by their consumption.
The survey, conducted among 135,000 mostly white adults aged 60, highlighted risks at all levels of regular alcohol consumption.
Risk of death increases with amount of alcohol
To arrive at this conclusion, the scientists decided to compare the medical data obtained from the participants – during self-administered questionnaires – with those of occasional drinkers (less than 20 grams of alcohol per week or 2 glasses per week) and drinkers consuming a small amount of alcohol daily (up to 10 grams per day – one glass), moderate (between 20 and 40 grams per day for men – 2 to 4 glasses – and between 10 and 20 grams for women – 1 to 2 glasses) or high alcohol (more than 40 grams per day for men – more than 4 glasses – and 20 grams per day for women – more than 2 glasses). Result?
- People who drank light amounts of alcohol had a 10% higher risk of dying from cancer than occasional drinkers;
- Those at moderate risk had a 10 to 15 percent greater chance of dying (from all causes, including cancer) compared with occasional drinkers;
- Heavy drinkers, meanwhile, had about a 33 percent higher risk of dying from cancer, heart disease or other causes than occasional drinkers.
The sick and the poorest are at greater risk
Another finding, the researchers revealed, was that participants’ income level, place of residence and overall health status had a significant influence on the harmful effects of alcohol.
For example, drinkers who were already ill or had low incomes were at increased risk of health problems.
“This is therefore an important element that should also be taken into account in public health interventions with these populations.“, concludes the author of the study, Dr. Rosario Ortola.
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