New Delhi, Dec 24 (NationPress) A recent study reveals that over 60% of individuals in India are afflicted with mouth (buccal mucosa) cancer primarily due to the regular intake of alcohol, especially locally produced beverages, which carry the highest risk. The study also highlights the role of smokeless tobacco products like gutkha, khaini, and paan in this alarming trend.

Conducted by researchers from the Center for Cancer Epidemiology and the Homi Bhabha National Institute in Maharashtra, the study shows that even a modest intake of less than 2 g of beer daily is linked to an increased risk of buccal mucosa cancer. Moreover, consuming 9 g of alcohol per day, roughly equivalent to a single standard drink, correlates with a nearly 50% rise in mouth cancer risk.

When combined with smokeless tobacco, these factors contribute to an astonishing 62% of all mouth cancer cases in the country.

The comprehensive findings, published in the open-access journal BMJ Global Health, indicate that approximately 11.5% of all buccal mucosa cancer cases in India can be attributed to alcohol consumption, with this figure escalating to 14% in states having a higher prevalence of the disease, including Meghalaya, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh.

“Alcohol is a significant contributor to the increased risk of mouth cancer, regardless of the duration of tobacco use. Ethanol may affect the fat composition of the mouth's inner lining, making it more permeable and vulnerable to carcinogens found in tobacco products,” stated the research team, led by Grace Sarah George.

“The potential contamination of locally brewed alcohol with harmful toxins such as methanol and acetaldehyde may elucidate the heightened risks associated with these beverages, which are largely unregulated,” they added.

Mouth cancer ranks as the second most prevalent malignancy in India, with an estimated 143,759 new cases and 79,979 annual deaths. The incidence of this disease has been steadily rising, now affecting nearly 15 out of every 100,000 Indian men, according to the researchers.

The most common form of mouth cancer in India involves the soft pink lining of the cheeks and lips (buccal mucosa), with less than half (43%) of those diagnosed surviving for over five years.

In this study, the researchers analyzed data from 1,803 individuals with confirmed buccal mucosa cancer and 1,903 controls from five separate study centers between 2010 and 2021. The majority of participants were aged between 35 and 54, with nearly half (around 46%) of cases occurring in individuals aged between 25 and 45.

Compared to non-drinkers, the risk of developing mouth cancer was 68% higher for those consuming alcohol, which increased to 72% for those favoring internationally recognized alcoholic beverages such as beer, whiskey, vodka, rum, and flavored drinks, and surged to 87% for those preferring locally brewed options like apong, bangla, chulli, desi daru, and mahua.

“Our research indicates that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption concerning the risks of buccal mucosa cancer. These findings underline the need for public health initiatives aimed at reducing the use of alcohol and tobacco, which could significantly decrease the incidence of buccal mucosa cancer in India,” the team concluded.