Study: Drinking wine reduces risk of esophageal cancer

NEW YORK Alcohol consumption has been known to increase acid reflux symptoms, cause damage to the esophagus and/or promote cancer. New reports, however, are finding that moderate consumption of wine may actually help prevent damage to the esophagus, recent research published in the journal Gastroenterology has found.

In one study, researchers from the Kaiser Permanente division of research in Oakland, Calif. reported that drinking as little as one glass of wine a day was associated with a 56% decrease in the risk for developing Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancer condition.

In a second study, Australian researchers found that while heavy alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk for squamous cell cancer of the esophagus, moderate intake of wine or other alcoholic beverages was associated with a lower risk for esophageal cancers as compared to nondrinkers.

In the third study, researchers from Belfast, Northern Ireland examined the impact of alcohol consumption on GERD-related esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, finding no increase in risk associated with drinking alcohol in early adulthood for any of the three conditions and that wine may help lower the risk of all three conditions.

Compared with people who did not drink, patients who drank seven or more glasses of wine per week were 66% less likely to develop Barrett's esophagus, according to Kaiser Permanente gastrointerologist and principal investigator Douglas A. Corley.

"Wine is high in antioxidants and other studies have shown that people who eat plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables are less likely to have Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer," Corley said.