Upper Digestive Tract Cancer
Wine is seen to have anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer effects. These are examined in relation to upper digestive tract cancer. Although wine is not the “silver bullet” some researchers hoped, it does have beneficial effects.
The Relationship between Wine and Upper Digestive Tract Cancer
The upper digestive tract includes the oropharnyx, larynx and esophagus (the back of the throat to the top of the stomach). Studies and logic point to tobacco as the primary cause of cancer in the upper digestive tract. There is also a correlation between alcohol and upper digestive tract cancer, especially in combination with tobacco.
In Gronbaek et. al.’s study, Population based cohort study of the association between alcohol intake and cancer of the upper digestive tract , they studied the effects of different types of alcoholic beverage’s relationship with upper digestive tract cancer.
This study was conducted in Denmark with over 28,000 subjects of varying age. The results of their study indicated that wine does not increase the risk of upper digestive tract cancer, where beer and liquor do.
Gronbaek et. al found that alcohol is definitely a risk factor for upper digestive tract cancer. They also studied Resveratrol, a chemical in wine, and found that it inhibited the formation and progression of cancerous cells. This was cited as one of the primary reasons why wine has anti-cancer benefits.
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