Epidemiologic studies have shown high alcohol consumption even at moderate levels increases risk of breast cancer.  The current study suggests that even low to moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks can increase risk of breast cancer.  Specifically, during a 12.4-year follow-up, compared with non-drinkers, women who drank 5 to 9.9 grams, 10 to 14.9 grams, 15 to 29.9 grams and greater than 30 grams of alcohol per day of alcohol were at 23%, 21%, 12%, 53% increased risk of breast cancer, respectively.  A positive association with tumors either positive or negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER/PR) was observed in African American women, Japanese American women, Latino and white women, but not in Native Hawaiian women.  Researchers suggest that even light to moderate alcohol consumption increases risk of breast cancer.  The U.S. Natural Toxicology Program has recognized alcoholic drinks as carcinogens for many years.  (David Liu, PHD)

Reference:

Song-Yi Park,*, Laurence N. Kolonel, Unhee Lim, Kami K. White, Brian E. Henderson, Lynne R. Wilkens, (2014) Alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk among women from five ethnic groups with light to moderate intakes: The Multiethnic Cohort Study, International Journal of Cancer, Volume 134, Issue 6, pages 1504–1510

Correspondence to: Song-Yi Park, Cancer Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA