Oct 04, 2014 12:51 AM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

High alcohol consumption may increase the risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in men, according to a recent study.

Researchers from the Moffitt Cancer Center found that men who consume more alcohol have a greater risk of HPV, a common sexually transmitted virus, with more than six million new infections in the United States each year. 

HPV causes genital warts in both men and women and is a contributing factor to a number of different cancers in women, including cervical, vaginal and anal cancers. More recent studies have shown that HPV can also cause penile, anal and oropharyngeal cancer in men. However, there is limited data regarding the epidemiology and biological mechanisms of HPV infection in men.

"Our findings provide additional support to current public health messaging regarding the importance of moderate alcohol consumption, smoking cessation, and safe sex practices.  Additional research is needed to replicate the current findings before clinical interventions can be recommended," explained researcher Matthew Schabath, assistant member of the Cancer Epidemiology Program.

For the study, Moffitt researchers analyzed potential risk factors for HPV infection in more than 1,300 men from Florida. DNA analysis was used to confirm the presence of HPV and the participants answered detailed surveys about alcohol consumption, smoking and sexual activity. The analysis was part of a larger international study of HPV infection in men called the HIM Study.

They found that men who consumed the most alcohol, on average more than 9.9 grams per day, had a significantly higher risk of HPV infection.  This risk was significant in both men who were current smokers and those men who never smoked. 

They also found that men who drank more alcohol had an increased risk of HPV infection independent of the number of sexual partners they had.  This suggests that increased consumption of alcohol may impair men's immune responses to HPV, causing a greater risk of chronic infection.

Alcohol is known to inhibit the body's immune response, causing increased susceptibility to both bacterial and viral infections. Studies have shown that even moderate amounts of alcohol can adversely affect the immune system. 

The findings were published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

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