While many people suffer from heartburn and gastric reflux
disease, only a small number develop more severe ailments that can
lead to esophageal cancer. Scientists who have been trying to
understand what may protect against these conditions have identified
an unlikely agent: wine.
Two studies published this month in the journal Gastroenterology
suggest that people who drink wine in moderation are less likely to
develop conditions that may lead to esophageal adenocarcinoma.
The reports are surprising because alcohol intake is a well-
established risk factor for the other main form of esophageal
cancer, squamous cell carcinoma. Researchers therefore warned that
the findings were preliminary and must be confirmed by more
intensive research.
In one new study, researchers at Kaiser Permanente found that
drinking one glass of wine a day was associated with a reduction of
more than 50 percent in the risk of developing Barrett's esophagus,
though there was no reduction in risk for that disorder among those
who drank either liquor or beer.
Barrett's esophagus, an erosion of the esophageal lining that can
be caused by chronic heartburn or acid reflux, increases the risk of
later developing esophageal adenocarcinoma 30- to 40-fold.
In the second study, researchers at Queen's University Belfast
found that wine drinkers were at lower risk for reflux esophagitis,
or GERD, an irritation of the esophagus caused by chronic heartburn.
Findings from the two studies are consistent with those from an
earlier Australian report published in the same journal in December.
That study found that drinking wine in moderation was associated
with lower risks for the two forms of esophageal cancer.
"There is a lot of warranted skepticism about nutritional studies
- one shows one thing and one shows something else," said Dr.
Douglas Corley, a gastroenterologist and senior author of the Kaiser
Permanente study. "But these are the first few studies that have
looked at this, and they all find the same thing in three different
populations in three different countries."
But in general, people who drink wine are different from those
who drink beer or liquor, experts said. They tend to earn more and
to be more educated, and it is hard for researchers to know if it is
the wine or some other aspect of their lifestyle that protects their
health in this case.
"This is an exploratory study, and my view is that further work
needs to be done before we put too much weight on it," said Dr. Liam
Murray, a senior author of the Irish study and a professor of cancer
epidemiology at Queen's University Belfast.
(C) 2009 International Herald Tribune. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved