A report from the World Health Organization states that individuals who easily flush after consuming alcohol and who drink regularly may have a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer than those who do not show facial flushing after drinking.
It has long been known that the human body contains an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase, which plays a crucial role in the metabolism of alcohol. People who lack this enzyme tend to flush easily even after consuming a small amount of alcohol.
The report, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a WHO agency, reassessed the causal relationship between alcohol and cancer. The findings revealed that for individuals who lack aldehyde dehydrogenase or whose enzyme is not functioning properly, the risk of developing esophageal cancer doubles with increasing alcohol consumption.