Alcohol linked to aging, cancer risk

Nirvana · 04-23-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Researchers in Italy say alcohol may be linked at the cellular level to aging and cancer.

Lead author Dr. Andrea Baccarelli of the University of Milan in Italy and colleagues suggest alcohol may accelerate the shortening of regions of DNA found at the end of chromosomes -- known as telomeres.

"All the cells in our body have a biological clock in telomeres," Baccarelli said in a statement.

Baccarelli and colleagues measured serum DNA among 59 participants who abused alcohol -- 22 percent consumed four or more alcoholic drinks per day -- as well as 197 participants with varying alcohol consumption habits.

The two groups were similar in age, diet, exercise, stress and other factors affecting telomere length, but the heavy drinkers had telomere lengths nearly half as long as those who did not abuse alcohol.

"The decrease we found in telomere length is very sharp, and we were surprised to find such a strong effect at the cellular level," Baccarelli said.

Telomere shortening is thought to increase cancer risk and the researchers speculated those with shorter telomeres due to alcohol would have an increased risk of cancer, the study said.

The findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 101st annual meeting Washington.

http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews...ueReading:eek:

ZenGum · 04-23-2010, 09:14 PM

Also, alcohol is the leading cause of waking up wearing a traffic cone.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-25-2010, 12:22 AM

Yeah yeah yeah, and next week they will release a study that says alcohol is good for you, for one reason or another.

Aliantha · 04-25-2010, 05:13 AM

All I have to say about this story is, "D'uh!"!

Nirvana · 04-25-2010, 09:47 AM

I am a bio geek I found the length of telomeres to be the interesting part

Trilby · 04-25-2010, 11:07 AM

So that's why I'm getting older!!!

Pie · 04-25-2010, 12:00 PM

Yummmm. spoam.

04-23-2010, 09:14 PM	#2
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Also, alcohol is the leading cause of waking up wearing a traffic cone. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

04-25-2010, 12:22 AM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yeah yeah yeah, and next week they will release a study that says alcohol is good for you, for one reason or another. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-25-2010, 05:13 AM	#4
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	All I have to say about this story is, "D'uh!"! __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

04-25-2010, 09:47 AM	#5
Nirvana Back in 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,684	I am a bio geek I found the length of telomeres to be the interesting part __________________ Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.

04-25-2010, 11:07 AM	#6
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	So that's why I'm getting older!!! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

04-25-2010, 12:00 PM	#7
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Yummmm. spoam. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

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