Breast cancer Even a glass of wine increases the risk

The consequences of moderate alcohol consumption are apparently underestimated: Even a drink a day increases the risk of breast cancer considerably, as a recent study from Boston now shows.

Image: Business / fotolia

It is estimated that alcohol is responsible for an average of 3.6% of all cancers, especially among heavy drinkers (1.7% in women and 5.2% in men). Now the researchers from Boston have shown that there is also a correlation between cancer and low or moderate alcohol consumption.

The researchers evaluated data from 88,084 women and 47,881 men over the age of 30 from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The scientists paid special attention to the consideration of the risk factor smoking and made a distinction between smoking and non-smoking participants.

There was a connection between the female study participants. Not only (ex) smokers, but also women who had never smoked in life had to expect even with moderate alcohol consumption with a significantly increased risk of contracting an alcohol-dependent tumor. The main role was played by the breast cancer.

In contrast, the risk of having an alcohol-related tumor among (moderately drinking) men increased only among those who had once smoked. Only from 15 g alcohol per day, the rate of alcohol-related cancers increased significantly, especially among smokers. Drinking volumes averaging over 30 g per day generally increased the risk of cancer significantly. (Pm)