Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Cancer: a Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This study aimed to discuss the consumption of alcohol as a risk factor for major cancers. We performed a search in the PubMed database, using the following inclusion criteria: meta-analysis published in English in the last 10 years that addressed the relationship between alcohol and the risk of developing cancer. The results indicate that moderate to heavy consumption of alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, stomach, larynx, colorectum, central nervous system, pancreas, breast and prostate. This review did not find any association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancers of the lung, bladder, endometrium and ovary. It was also observed that alcohol consumption may be inversely related to thyroid cancer. Our systematic review has confirmed consumption of alcohol as a risk factor for the development of several types of cancer. Research (2007) report that there is convincing evidence linking the consumption of alcoholic beverages to cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, breast and bowel, the latter being only in men. In addition, there is a likely relationship between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and an increased risk of colon cancer and liver cancer in women.The preparation of this systemic review study is based on these considerations, with the aim of discussing the association between alcohol consumption and the main types of cancer. The expected contribution is the disclosure of consolidated information about this possible risk ratio, contributing to the establishment of strategies to prevent the occurrence of cancer. Materials and MethodsWe performed a systematic literature review of metaanalysis that was conducted to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and cancer.The publications were identified in the PubMed bibliographic database, and used the following keywords: cancer, alcohol and meta-analysis. The first two were used as words that appeared on the title and the latter as the type of study chosen. We chose to establish a period of 10 years Raquel Ferreira de Menezes et al

Relation of Alcohol/Tobacco use with Metastasis, Hormonal (Estrogen and Progesterone) Receptor Status and c-erbB2 Protein in Mammary Ductal Carcinoma

“…As of 2004, there was an increase in the number of individual studies and systematic reviews with meta-analysis, and they left little doubt about the association between breast cancer and the use of tobacco and/or alcohol. Alcohol consumption above all was clearly associated with this malady (de Menezes et al, 2013;Gao et al, 2013;Gou et al, 2013).…”

“…However, since the end of the 1980's, a multitude of articles have been published about the fact that the regular 1 consumption of alcohol and use of tobacco represent risk factors for breast cancer (Stefani et al, 2011;CardenasRodriguez et al, 2012;de Menezes et al, 2013;Gao et al, 2013;Gou et al, 2013). Interestingly, some of the first studies actually showed a reduction of the risk of breast cancer with tobacco use (Meara et al, 1989) or alcohol consumption (Adami et al, 1988;Liu, M. et al, 2014b), or no association between smoking and breast cancer (Smith et al, 1994), further more, did not find any association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancers of the lung, bladder, endometrium and ovary (de Menezes et al, 2013), and it was also observed that alcohol consumption may be inversely related to thyroid cancer. And on the other hand, in certain study suggest that cigarette smoking is associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer among former smokers in Serbia (Ilic et al, 2013).…”

Association of Risk of Gastric Cancer and Consumption of Tobacco, Alcohol and Tea in the Chinese Population

“…Ladeiras-Lopes and colleagues' review of 42 cohort studies showed relative risk (RR) of GC were 1.62 in male smokers (95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.50-1.75) and 1.20 in female smokers (95%CI: 1.01-1.43) compared with those who had never smoked (Ladeiras-Lopes et al, 2008). With regard to alcohol drinking, some researchers believe that it is an important risk factor for numerous cancers worldwide, including cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, stomach, larynx, colorectum, central nervous system, pancreas, breast and prostate (Boffetta et al, 2006;de Menezes et al, 2013). Others have demonstrated that the first metabolite (acetaldehyde) of alcohol is a local carcinogen in humans (Salaspuro, 2003).…”

Reliability and Validity of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption in Screening for Adults with Alcohol Use Disorders and Risky Drinking In Japan

“…Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with not only multiple health problems including cancer but also many social problems such as drunken driving, child abuse, and domestic violence; it also leads to substantial social expense (WHO, 2009;Osaki et al, 2012;de Menezes et al, 2013;Yaegashi et al, 2014). Screening tests have been proposed to identify alcohol use disorders.…”