Alcohol consumption leads to the formation of acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that damages DNA, according to a study by researchers at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague). The findings, published in Communications Biology, provide new insight into how alcohol-related DNA damage is repaired and how this process is linked to cancer development.
The researchers examined Fanconi anemia, a rare inherited disorder marked by a failure to repair specific DNA damage. In affected cells, DNA strands become stuck together, blocking replication and cell division. If left unrepaired, this damage causes chromosomal instability, which can result in cancer or cell death. Similar damage can also occur in people without the disorder.
Dr. Jan Šilhán of IOCB Prague said, “The message is clear: alcohol damages DNA.” The study found that the SXE enzyme complex can remove acetaldehyde-induced DNA damage, initiating repair. However, individuals with weaker DNA repair or detoxification mechanisms may face a higher cancer risk, even with low alcohol intake.