Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions

Alcohol Intake Increases Cancer Risk

Even light to moderate drinking may pose threat

Publish date:: September 1, 2015

Light to moderate intake of alcohol was associated with minimally increased risk of overall cancer in both men and women in 2 cohort studies where 19,269 and 7,571 incident cancers were documented. Risk of alcohol-related cancers is not appreciably increased for light to moderate drinking for men who have never smoked. However, for women who have never smoked, the risk of alcohol-related cancers (mainly breast cancer) increases even at a rate of up to 1 alcoholic drink per day. Study details included:

• Compared to non-drinkers, light to moderate drinkers had relative risks of total cancer that were minimally elevated (1.02 to 1.04) and not statistically significant.

• Among men, the relative risks ranged from 1.03 to 1.06, non-significant increase, for light to moderate alcohol intake.

• Alcohol consumption above moderate levels was more strongly associated with risk of total cancer among smokers than never smokers.

• For women, even light alcohol consumption was associated with increased risk of alcohol-related cancer (relative risk 1.13 [95% confidence interval 1.06 to 1.20], driven by breast cancer).

Citation: Cao Y, Willett W, Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci EL. Light to moderate intake of alcohol, drinking patterns, and risk of cancer: results from two prospective US cohort studies. BMJ 2015;351:h4238. doi: 10.1136/bmj.h4238.

Commentary: This study shows that light to moderate alcohol intake may increase the risk of breast cancer in women by approximately 13%, but has little effect on cancer risk in men. Other studies show that light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of multiple cardiovascular outcomes, including a 29% decrease in the development of cardiovascular disease and a 30% decrease in cardiovascular disease mortality¹. In aggregate, it appears that light to moderate alcohol intake does not increase cancer in men, may increase the incidence of cancer in women by about 13%, but that any negative effects leading to cancer development are likely offset by a beneficial effect on the development of cardiovascular disease. —Neil Skolnik, MD

1. Ronksley PE, Brien SE, Turner BJ, et al. Association of alcohol consumption with selected cardiovascular disease outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2011;342:d671. doi:10.1136/bmj.d671.

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