Does Alcohol Intake Increase Colorectal Cancer Risk?

Alcohol
intake may increase colorectal cancer risk. However, the
magnitude of this risk and intake level at which it occurs are
unknown. To examine the association between alcohol intake
and colorectal cancer, researchers pooled primary data from 8 large
prospective cohort studies in 5 countries that reported incident
cases of colorectal cancer (4687) in a total of 489,979 men and
women.

• Consuming >=45
  g of alcohol (roughly 3 standard drinks) per day, compared with
  not drinking, significantly increased risk of colorectal cancer
  (relative risk, RR, 1.4). Consuming 30 g to <45 g per
  day also increased risk (RR 1.2) at a borderline level of significance.
• These results
  were consistent among men and women, by type of alcoholic beverage
  (i.e., beer, wine, liquor), and regardless of multivitamin use,
  folate and methionine intake, and smoking.
• Those with
  a lower body mass index (BMI) who consumed alcohol had a higher
  risk of colorectal cancer.
• The effect
  of alcohol consumption, regardless of beverage type, was similar
  for all colon cancer sites.

Comments:

The

increased risk of colorectal cancer observed in this study

is modest and occurs at a level of alcohol intake that
is

above the usual recommended threshold for low-risk drinking.

Healthcare providers should be aware of these findings
and incorporate them into discussions with patients about
the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption.

Kevin
L. Kraemer, MD, MSc

Reference:

Cho

E, Smith-Warner SA, Ritz J, et al. Alcohol intake
and colorectal cancer: a pooled analysis of 8 cohort studies. Ann
Intern Med. 2004;140(8):603–613.
(view
abstract)