Does blushing after drinking alcohol increase the risk of liver cancer?

In recent years, liver cancer has become a major disease that endangers human life. It has brought great pain and distress to humans. Blushing after drinking may be a gene mutation. Long-term alcoholism is much more likely to cause liver cancer than normal people. Recently, the Jiangsu Provincial Cancer Research Institute conducted a four-year follow-up survey and revealed the intrinsic connection between long-term alcoholism and the risk of liver cancer. Alcoholic hepatitis B virus carriers have the highest risk of liver cancer.

The research project was organized and implemented by a director of the Jiangsu Cancer Research Institute. The research executor, director of the institute's epidemiology department, said that drinking is a recognized risk factor for liver cancer in addition to hepatitis B, drinking contaminated water and eating moldy food, but there has been a lack of clear identification of the risk and intrinsic connection.

Studies have shown that the metabolism of alcohol in the human body is completed through acetaldehyde deoxygenase 2 (ALDH2). The function of acetaldehyde deoxygenase 2 in the human body is to oxidize acetaldehyde into non-carcinogenic acetic acid, and finally decompose it into carbon dioxide and water that are harmless to the human body and excreted from the body.

However, when the normal gene of acetaldehyde deoxygenase 2 mutates, the enzyme will lose its activity, causing the acetaldehyde concentration in the blood to increase by more than 6 times after drinking. Long-term alcoholism will accumulate acetaldehyde in the body and may eventually cause liver cells to become cancerous.

The study also found that one-third of the Chinese population, or about 400 to 500 million people, are carriers of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 variant genotype, and the vast majority of them are unaware that they are deficient in enzyme activity.

Carriers of "mutated genes" have a 3.51 times higher risk of developing cancer than normal people

The research team initially conducted a survey in the high-incidence areas of liver cancer in the province and found that the severe prevalence of hepatitis B and drinking are indeed important risk factors for the high incidence of liver cancer in the area. However, among the 30% of local long-term drinkers, why do only some people eventually develop liver cancer?

To this end, the investigation team conducted an epidemiological study on aldehyde deoxygenase 2 genotype and hepatitis B virus carriage in 208 new liver cancer patients and 208 non-cancer residents in the local area, and also investigated their research status.

The results showed that among people with enzyme deficiency, if they drank more than 3 kilograms of alcohol per month, their risk of developing liver cancer was 3.51 times that of normal gene carriers and non-drinkers; as the total amount of alcohol consumed by the former increased throughout their lives, their risk of liver cancer showed a clear upward trend.

At the same time, the study also discovered for the first time in China and abroad that for people who are deficient in both hepatitis B virus and enzyme activity, if they drink heavily for a long time, the risk of developing liver cancer has a significant multiplicative effect. That is, when the total amount of alcohol consumed exceeds 3 kilograms per year, the risk of developing liver cancer is 52.17 times that of normal people who drink less than 3 kilograms per year.

Experts remind: People who blush or feel nauseous after drinking should be careful

Experts say that there is a large group of carriers of the aldehyde deoxygenase 2 gene variant in China, accounting for about 1/3 of the total population. Compared with normal gene carriers of the enzyme, they have no difference in drinking frequency and amount. Those with enzyme deficiency drink a lot. At the same time, 10% of the population in China carries the hepatitis B virus, and the potential risk of liver cancer is worrying. At present, aldehyde deoxygenase 2 genotype testing cannot be widely carried out for the general population. How should people reduce the risk of liver cancer from drinking?

Experts told reporters that studies have found that carriers of the acetaldehyde deoxygenase 2 gene variant often experience neurological symptoms such as flushing, nausea and tachycardia after drinking. Therefore, if you have the above symptoms after drinking, you should be vigilant, quit drinking or try to reduce your alcohol intake to prevent the occurrence of liver cancer.

At the same time, drinking can also cause health damage to normal people, such as alcoholic liver disease and damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa. People should try to drink less or only drink low-alcohol drinks, such as red wine and beer; long-term drinkers should strictly control their alcohol intake to a safe dose of less than 15 grams/day.

The above is an introduction to the relationship between red wine and liver cancer. Expert Tips: If you have symptoms of illness, you can choose the appropriate treatment according to your symptoms, but do not delay diagnosis, and do not let your life be ruined by hesitation. You should go to a regular hospital for treatment in time to avoid delaying the disease and causing serious consequences. If you have other questions, please consult our online experts or call for consultation. Believe in miracles, and wish you health, happiness, and joy!

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