sorry to bring this up again--breast cancer risk increases with each drink

[Lani]

per week according to this Danish study

ABSTRACT: Alcohol drinking, consumption patterns and breast cancer among Danish nurses: a cohort study [European Journal of Public Health; Subscribe]
Background: The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of alcohol intake and drinking pattern on the risk of breast cancer.
Methods: A total of 17 647 nurses were followed from 1993 until the end of 2001. At baseline participants completed a questionnaire on alcohol intake and other lifestyle-related factors. Data were analysed using Cox's proportional hazard model.
Results: During follow-up 457 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. The relative risk of breast cancer was 2.30 [Confidence interval (CI): 1.56-3.39] for alcohol intake of 22-27 drinks per week, compared to 1-3 drinks per week. Among alcohol consumers, weekly alcohol intake increased the risk of breast cancer with 2% for each additional drink consumed. Weekend consumption increased the risk with 4% for each additional drink consumed friday through sunday. Binge drinking of 4-5 drinks the latest weekday increased risk with 55%, compared with consumption of one drink. A possible threshold in risk estimates was found for consumption above 27 drinks per week.
Conclusions: For alcohol consumption above the intake most frequently reported, the risk of breast cancer is increased. The risk is minor for moderate levels but increases for each additional drink consumed during the week. Weekend consumption and binge drinking imply an additional increase in breast cancer risk.

[R.B.]

Thank you for posting that Lani.

Thought provoking

RB

[CPA]

Putting on my skeptic hat again… I am always a little leary of "questionnaire" studies. How much do people really remember about their eating/drinking patterns over a 5-10 year period? Does the survey really take into account all relevant "lifestyle-related factors"? how many minutes per week on average did you exercise last year? How many servings of vegetables did you eat per week last year? On a scale of 1-10 how much stress do you have?

Assuming that the survey participants have a good memory, that they answer truthfully, and that the survey is able to correct for other "lifestyle-related factors", then this study does appear to show that the risk of cancer increases if you heavily consume alcohol, averaging 3 to 4 drinks per day, or if you binge drink on the weekends.

Note that the ranges of consumption run from a low of 1-3 drinks per week to a high of 22-27 drinks per week. Essentially, the risk of cancer a little more than doubles (increases 2.3x)from the lowest to the highest group.

What this study does not show (probably because it cannot due to weak data) is a statistically significant increase in cancer for those who drink 0 per week to 1-3 per week. It would have been even a stronger headline if they could have shown that there was an increased risk from those who consumed 0 per week to those who consumed 1-3 or 4-10 per week. My guess is that there was no statistically significant finding so they had to set the "danger" threshold at 27+ drinks per week.

What I take from this study... Enjoy life, but do it in moderation. Do not binge drink. Go ahead and have a glass of red wine with dinner a few time per week... It probably won't give you cancer and it may help your heart!