DNA damage caused by alcohol can increase the risk of cancer and malignancies.
Alcohol consumption can cause lasting damage to the body. It can degrade DNA and increase the risk of developing certain diseases. According to new research, there are natural mechanisms that can repair the damage caused by alcohol. The Hubrecht Institute (Netherlands) and the MRC Molecular Biology Laboratory of the University of Cambridge (UK) publish the results of their research in the journal Nature.
A protective enzyme, which we do not all have
In January 2018, the magazine Nature publishes a study on the damage of alcohol on cells. When a human drinks an alcoholic beverage, its metabolism by the body produces a molecule called ethanal, or acetaldehyde. Researchers have shown that it damages DNA, which would cause malignant tumors or cancers. They also highlighted the role of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2): this enzyme protects our organism from alcohol, but not all humans have it. In Southeast Asia, 8% of the population does not have it, according to scientists, this could explain the high prevalence of esophageal cancer in this region of the globe.
Hope to cure alcohol-related cancers
In this new research, the researchers looked at the body’s other defenses. Using laboratory animals, they discovered the existence of two DNA repair mechanisms. The first is related to Fanconi anemia, a genetic disease that causes DNA repair disorders: in this case, the DNA is cut to remove the damage linked to the crossing of the branches, associated with alcohol . In the second, faster method, enzymes themselves remove these crossings. “We now know that the organism has multiple ways of repairing the damage caused by the crossing of DNA branches”, explains the lead author of the study, Puck Knipscheer. According to her, this research could lead to new treatments for people with alcohol-related cancers.
Several million deaths worldwide
According to Inserm, 10% of adults in France have problems with their alcohol consumption. It can cause more than 200 diseases and other health problems, and is the second leading cause of premature death in the country. According to the world health organization3.3 million people worldwide die from the harmful use of alcohol.
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