Is Alcohol Consumption Related to Breast Cancer? Results From the Framingham Heart Study

Abstract

We studied the relation between alcohol consumption and breast cancer among women in the Framingham Heart Study cohort. A total of 2,636 women aged 31-64 years provided information on alcohol consumption at the second biennial examination. They were followed for up to 32 years; during this period, breast cancer was diagnosed in 143 of these women. Alcohol intake was also assessed at 10 and 20 years of follow-up and every 2 years thereafter. In analyses using only baseline alcohol intake, the multiple risk factor-adjusted relative risk (RR) estimate of breast cancer for any drinking, compared with nondrinking, was 0.8 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.5-1.1]. For three levels of alcohol intake (0.1-1.4 g/day, 1.5-4.9 g/day, and greater than or equal to 5.0 g/day), the baseline analyses yielded RRs (vs. nondrinking) of 1.0 (CI, 0.6-1.5), 0.7 (CI, 0.4-1.1), and 0.6 (CI, 0.4-1.0), respectively. In analyses incorporating repeated measures of alcohol, the comparable RRs were 0.9 (CI, 0.6-1.2) for any drinking (vs. nondrinking) and 0.7 (CI, 0.4-1.4), 1.1 (CI, 0.7-1.8), and 0.8 (CI, 0.5-1.2), respectively, for the three levels of intake (vs. nondrinking). Alcohol consumption was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in this cohort.

Life-style in Relation to the Risk of Breast Cancer*

“…Results showed marked inconsistencies, because of difficulties in measuring and quantifying its consumption (1,2). Unlike other papers (21)(22)(23)(24), this hospital-based case-control analysis showed a protective effect of alcohol against breast cancer, independent of age, reproductive factors, lactation, and even smoking. Compared to Western women, female drinkers are not as common among Orientals, least of all heavy drinkers.…”

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer among Japanese Women in Tokyo : A Case-Control Study

“…Most studies have found no clear association 3,8,13,27,33,[36][37][38]40) while some investigators have suggested an unfavorable effect of smoking habits on breast cancer 1, 35,39) In the present study, smoking habits were found to be associated with breast cancer risk, likewise a previous study conducted in Nagoya, Japan 35) In our study, we failed to detect clear dose-response relationship between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and breast cancer risk. Nevertheless, more detailed studies will be warranted on smoking habits, since our findings certainly indicate a positive association of smoking habits with breast cancer risk in females in Japan.…”

“…A positive association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer has been reported in many3, 5,6,8,11,15,21.22.34) but not all7, 10,13,27,32,33,35) epidemiological studies. The present study, however, did not show a significantly larger RR for current drinkers.…”

“…They include family history of breast cancer1-13) history of benign breast disease 2,4.8.9.14,15), early menarche 2,10,16-21), late menopause7-9, [14][15][16][17]19,20,22) late age at first birth/full-term pregnancy2, [8][9][10][11]13,18,21,[23][24][25] and low parity/a small number of full-term pregnancies2, 11.13.15,18,19,23,24,25,27) Obesity or heavy weight is also an established risk factor for breast cancer among postmenopausal women2, 13,20,[28][29][30][31] Some studies have reported that breast-feeding has a protective effect against breast cancer, independently of other reproductive episodes2,12.23). Whether drinking 3, [5][6][7][8]10,11,13,15,21,22,27,[32][33][34][35] and smoking1,3,1, 13,27,33,[35][36][37][38]…”

Authors' reply

“…Most reliable evidence on the subject is available from large cohort studies with detailed smoking histories obtained before the occurrence of the disease. Studies such as the nurses' health study and the Framingham heart study have failed to show any association between cigarette smoking and breast cancer 2 3. Furthermore, a reduction in the risk of breast cancer among smokers has been reported in cohort studies as frequently as an increase 4.…”