Light alcohol drinking and cancer: a meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background There is convincing evidence that alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer of the colorectum, breast, larynx, liver, esophagus, oral cavity and pharynx. Most of the data derive from studies that focused on the effect of moderate/high alcohol intakes, while little is known about light alcohol drinking (up to 1 drink/day).Patients and methods We evaluated the association between light drinking and cancer of the colorectum, breast, larynx, liver, esophagus, oral cavity and pharynx, through a meta-analytic approach. We searched epidemiological studies using PubMed, ISI Web of Science and EMBASE, published before December 2010.Results We included 222 articles comprising ∼92 000 light drinkers and 60 000 non-drinkers with cancer. Light drinking was associated with the risk of oropharyngeal cancer [relative risk, RR = 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.29], esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (RR = 1.30; 95% CI 1.09-1.56) and female breast cancer (RR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.02-1.08). We estimated that ∼5000 deaths from oropharyngeal cancer, 24 000 from esophageal SCC and 5000 from breast cancer were attributable to light drinking in 2004 worldwide. No association was found for colorectum, liver and larynx tumors.Conclusions Light drinking increases the risk of cancer of oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus and female breast.
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No threshold for the effects of alcohol use on the risk of cancer has been detected.
“No threshold for the effects of alcohol use on the risk of cancer has been detected; however, especially for breast cancer, there is ample evidence of alcohol's effects even at low levels of average consumption 177, 178, 179.”
From The relationship between different dimensions of alcohol use and the burden of disease—an update (2017) · cites this paper as [179]
There is ample evidence of alcohol's effects on breast cancer even at low levels of average consumption.
“especially for breast cancer, there is ample evidence of alcohol's effects even at low levels of average consumption 177, 178, 179.”
From The relationship between different dimensions of alcohol use and the burden of disease—an update (2017) · cites this paper as [179]
This results in a large breast cancer burden from relatively low doses (<21 g per day) of alcohol.
“This results in a large breast cancer burden from relatively low doses (< 21 g per day) of alcohol 179.”
From The relationship between different dimensions of alcohol use and the burden of disease—an update (2017) · cites this paper as [179]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Bagnardi, V., Rota, M., Botteri, E., Tramacere, I., Islami, F., Fedirko, V., Scotti, L., Jenab, M., Turati, F., Pasquali, E., Pelucchi, C., Bellocco, R., Negri, E., Corrao, G., Rehm, J., Boffetta, P., & La Vecchia, C.
- Affiliations
- European Institute of Oncology (IT)
- University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
- University of Milan (IT)
- Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research (IT)
- University of Tehran (IR)
- Centre international de recherche sur le cancer (FR)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
- International Prevention Research Institute (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Bagnardi, V.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Annals of Oncology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-02
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 301-308
- ISSN
- 0923-7534 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2143017332
- Cited by
- 424
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 3.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Annals of Oncology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BOA (University of Milano-Bicocca) (submittedVersion)
- Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
- Institutional Research Information System (Università degli Studi di Brescia) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- INFM-OAR (INFN Catania) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Italian Association for Cancer Research (MFAG-10258)
- University of Milan-Bicocca (FAR-12-1-5151630-239)
- Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute Center of Excellence (Award 052460_CoE)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Otorhinolaryngology › Head and Neck Cancer Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment
- Keywords
- alcohol consumption, cancer risk, oropharyngeal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, laryngeal cancer
- MeSH terms
- Alcohol Drinking, Female, Humans, Life Style, Male, Neoplasms, Risk Factors
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