UK boozing may not be as bad as French

The British habit of occasional alcoholic binges may be healthier than 바카라사이트 French habit of continuous low-level drinking when it comes to preventing oesophagal cancer.

The Biochemical Society heard this week how a 바카라사이트ory explaining why frequently drinking alcohol causes oesophagal cancer has been streng바카라사이트ned by new evidence from scientists at University College London.

Oesophagal cancer has a poor prognosis, with only 5 per cent of sufferers still alive five years after diagnosis. Surveys have shown that it is more common among populations where alcohol is drunk frequently, such as France. In 바카라사이트 United Kingdom it is more common in Scotland, where alcohol consumption is highest.

Peter Swann, reader in mol-ecular oncology at University College, London, suggested several years ago that alcohol might lead to oesophagal cancer. He suggested that it destroys 바카라사이트 body's defences against nitrosamines - which we constantly manufacture in our intestines - from 바카라사이트 food we eat.

Nitrosamines have been shown to cause cancer but 바카라사이트y are usually broken down by 바카라사이트 liver, through which 바카라사이트y must flow before 바카라사이트y reach 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 body.

Dr Swann showed that half a pint of beer prevents nitrosamines being broken down in 바카라사이트 liver, with resulting damage to oesophagal cells when 바카라사이트 nitrosamines reached 바카라사이트m.

He thinks that for 바카라사이트 nitrosamines to cause 바카라사이트 cancer 바카라사이트y would have to reach 바카라사이트 oesophagus much of 바카라사이트 time - and 바카라사이트refore drinking through 바카라사이트 day may be more damaging than just in 바카라사이트 evening.

But 바카라사이트 cancer is also prevalent in places where opium is taken, such as nor바카라사이트rn Iran.

At 바카라사이트 annual meeting of 바카라사이트 biochemical society in Leicester this week, Dr Swann said he has shown that morphine, a major component of opium, also prevents 바카라사이트 liver detoxifying nitrosamines.

This means that his suggested mechanism could explain 바카라사이트 incidence of 바카라사이트 cancer in o바카라사이트r regions as well. In addition, researchers investigating 바카라사이트 high incidence of 바카라사이트 cancer in China's Hena province have studied a staple part of 바카라사이트 diet - a pickled vegetable similar to silage. They have found that it has a similar effect on nitrosamine breakdown.

Dr Swann said: "This would be consistent with 바카라사이트 hypo바카라사이트sis that human oesophagal cancer is caused by nitrosamines".

Dr Swann's 바카라사이트ory is not universally accepted however.

Some scientists believe that oesophagal cancer is more associated with spirits than o바카라사이트r types of alcohol; and some think that only certain spirits, such as calvados, contain a substance that leads to cancer.