Vivek Murthy, US surgeon-general, has called for new warning labels on alcoholic drinks that inform consumers of the increased risk of cancer.

The surgeon-general’s advisory is a public statement that calls American people to an urgent public health issue and provides recommendations.

Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that require the nation’s immediate awareness and action.

In the advisory published on Friday, the surgeon-general said there is extensive evidence that alcohol causes cancer in many ways.

According to the advisory, alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde in the body, which causes cancer by binding to DNA and damaging it.

“Alcohol generates reactive oxygen species, which increase inflammation and can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids in the body through a process called oxidation,” the advisory reads.

“Alcohol alters hormone levels (including estrogen), which can play a role in the development of breast cancer.

“Carcinogens from other sources, especially particles of tobacco smoke, can dissolve in alcohol, making it easier for them to be absorbed into the body, increasing the risk for mouth and throat cancers.”

The surgeon-general said to reduce cancer risk, the US should “update the existing surgeon-general’s health warning label on alcohol-containing beverages to include a warning about the risk of cancer associated with alcohol consumption”.

He said the US should also pursue changes to label characteristics to make the warning label “more visible, prominent, and effective” in increasing awareness about cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption.

He also said the country should “reassess recommended limits for alcohol consumption to account for the latest evidence on alcohol consumption and cancer risk”.

“Strengthen and expand education efforts to increase general awareness that alcohol consumption causes cancer. Inform patients in clinical settings about the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk,” he added.

“Promote the use of alcohol screening and provide brief intervention and referral to treatment as needed.”

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the circulation of “counterfeit” Paludex tablets and suspensions in Nigeria.

The agency said the drugs, labelled as Paludex (Artemether/Lumefantrine), are manufactured by Impact Pharmaceutical Ltd, and Ecomed Pharma Ltd, Enugu and marketed by MD Life Sciences Ltd, Enugu.

The statement said laboratory tests conducted by a WHO-prequalified laboratory in Germany and NAFDAC revealed that the products contain zero percent active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), rendering them ineffective and potentially harmful.

NAFDAC warned that the products are not on its registered database and all NAFDAC registration numbers stated on the products are false.

“Genuine Artemether/Lumefantrine tablets or suspension is a combination of the two medications Artemether and Lumefantrine used to treat acute, uncomplicated malaria in adults and children,” the statement reads.

“The illegal marketing of medicines or counterfeit medicines poses a great risk to the health of people; by not complying with the regulatory provisions, the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed.

“Also, poor-quality pediatric formulations or medicines in general have the potential of causing treatment failure when the API content is below the prescribed dose.

“All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the falsified products within their zones and states.

“NAFDAC implores distributors, healthcare providers, and patients to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid distribution, administration, and use of the products.

“All medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.”

A new study has found that reducing the amount of sugar children get in the womb and as toddlers can protect them against diabetes and high blood pressure in adulthood.

Published in the journal Science, the research reveals a critical period for healthy nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life — from conception to age two.

The study found that cutting sugar intake in this window decreased the type 2 diabetes risk by about 35% and the risk of high blood pressure by roughly 20%. The researchers also discovered a delay in disease onset of four and two years, respectively.

The research team anaylsed data from before and after the end of the United Kingdom’s world war II-era sugar rationing in September 1953.

In January 1940, the UK government began food rationing to ensure fair shares for all during the wartime shortage.

Access to sugar, fats, bacon, meat and cheese was limited. When the rationing of sugar and sweets ended in September 1953, the average adult’s daily sugar consumption nearly doubled almost immediately, from about 40 grams to 80 grams.

Analysing the UK BioBank database of 60,000 people, the scientists compared health in middle age for 38,000 people conceived and born during rationing and 22,000 people conceived soon afterward.

The analysis showed a 30% reduction in the risk of obesity among sugar-rationed babies.

The study by the team at the University of Southern California also found that the risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure increased with age. However, it increased faster in those conceived after sugar-rationing ended.

The results showed type 2 diabetes started on average four years later in adult life where there had been sugar-rationing during early childhood, and blood pressure two years later.

There was a 35% reduction in type 2 diabetes for those babies conceived during sugar rationing and a 20% reduction in high blood pressure.

“Sugar rationing created an interesting natural experiment,” said Tadeja Gracner, the study lead author and a senior economist at the Center for Economics and Social Research at the University of Southern California.

“We all want to improve our health and give our children the best start in life, and reducing added sugar early is a powerful step in that direction.

“With better information, environment and the right incentives, parents can more easily reduce sugar exposure, for kids and themselves.”

Also speaking, Keith Godfrey, a professor from the University of Southampton, said: “This is convincing new evidence, providing further support that reducing exposure of the unborn baby and newborn infant to sugar has lasting benefits that include lowering the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure in later adulthood.

“The findings are in keeping with our research showing lower rates of obesity in the children of mothers who eat low glycaemic index foods during pregnancy that are digested and absorbed more slowly, causing a slower rise in blood sugar levels.”

A previous study also suggested that high sugar intake during pregnancy may affect a child’s intelligence.