即使只喝一点点酒也会增加患癌症的风险

Over the years, there has been no shortage of studies focused on alcohol consumption. Some studies suggest there are benefits to moderate consumption of alcohol on a regular or semi-regular basis, while others warn of the many potential dangers. A new study published in the journal Cancer falls squarely in the latter category.

多年来，关于饮酒的研究层出不穷。一些研究表明，定期或半定期适度饮酒是有好处的，而另一些研究则警告了许多潜在的危险。发表在《癌症》杂志上的一项新研究正好属于后一类。

The research, which was published Monday, Dec. 9, focused on the impact of regular alcohol consumption on the risk of developing cancer. Unfortunately for those of us who enjoy a cocktail here and there, even casual drinking on a limited basis seems to be tied to an increase in cancer.

这项研究于12月9日(周一)发表，主要关注的是定期饮酒对癌症风险的影响。不幸的是，对于我们这些到处喜欢喝鸡尾酒的人来说，即使是少量的随意饮酒似乎也会增加患癌症的几率。

The study included health data from over 120,000 individuals in Japan, using self-reported information on alcohol consumption. A “drink,” in this case, was classified as 6 ounces of sake, one bottle of beer, 6 ounces of wine, or 2 ounces of whiskey. Those who are currently regular drinkers or who drank regularly in their past were much more likely to be diagnosed with certain kinds of cancer, including cancer of the esophagus and larynx. Esophageal cancer, in particular, was over four times more likely in regular drinkers than in those who abstain from alcohol.

这项研究包括了来自日本超过12万人的健康数据，使用的是关于饮酒的自述信息。在这种情况下，一种“饮料”被归类为6盎司的清酒，一瓶啤酒，6盎司的葡萄酒，或者2盎司的威士忌。那些现在经常饮酒或过去经常饮酒的人更有可能被诊断出患有某些癌症，包括食道癌和喉癌。尤其是食道癌，经常喝酒的人患食道癌的可能性是不喝酒的人的四倍多。

Other cancers, including those of the mouth, colon and liver, were between 30 percent and 56 percent more likely in individuals who were classified as drinkers. The amount of alcohol a person drinks also proved to be an important factor, with the risks decreasing as average alcohol consumption waned. Those who never drink fared better than everyone else in the study.

其他癌症，包括口腔癌、结肠癌和肝癌，在饮酒人群中发生的几率要高出30%到56%。一个人的饮酒量也被证明是一个重要因素，随着平均饮酒量的减少，患病风险也在降低。在这项研究中，从不喝酒的人表现得比其他人都好。

“In Japan, overall cancer risk appeared to be the lowest at zero alcohol consumption, with a modest increase in overall cancer risk at light to moderate levels for the total amount of lifetime alcohol consumption,” the researchers write. “The risk associated with light to moderate levels for the total amount of lifetime alcohol consumption appeared to similarly matter across sexes and different drinking and smoking behaviors or occupational classes in that country.”

研究人员写道:“在日本，总体癌症风险似乎是最低的，在不饮酒的情况下，一生中饮酒总量的轻度至中度总体癌症风险略有增加。”“一生中饮酒总量处于轻度至中度水平的风险，在该国的性别、不同的饮酒和吸烟行为或职业类别中似乎也有类似的影响。”

It’s an interesting study and while it might seem a bit troubling to anyone who likes to wind down after work with a beer or cocktail of some sort, it’s worth noting that this data is specific to the Japanese population. The same may well be true for Europeans and other populations in the West, but this study can’t make that declaration.

这是一项有趣的研究，虽然对于那些喜欢下班后喝杯啤酒或鸡尾酒放松一下的人来说，这可能有点麻烦，但值得注意的是，这些数据只适用于日本人。同样的情况也可能发生在欧洲和其他西方国家，但这项研究并不能得出这样的结论。