Even Moderate Drinking Raises Cancer Risk across Multiple Cancer Types

Even moderate alcohol consumption was consistently linked to a higher risk of multiple cancers, with clear dose–response relationships showing that risk rises with greater frequency and quantity of drinking. In this systematic review of 62 U.S.-based studies, alcohol use was most strongly associated with increased risks of breast, colorectal, and liver cancers, but elevated risks were also reported for several other cancer types. Race/ethnicity and age were the most frequently cited individual factors that modified cancer risk, while common alcohol-related comorbidities included obesity, alcoholic liver disease, and diabetes, which may further amplify long-term cancer risk. Overall, the findings highlight that cancer risk is not confined to heavy or chronic drinking and emphasize the importance of considering alcohol consumption, even at moderate levels, in cancer prevention efforts. Alcohol is a leading modifiable risk factor for cancer in the U.S. and is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/