Light to moderate amount of lifetime alcohol consumption and risk of cancer in Japan

Abstract

Background Even light to moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to increase cancer incidence. However, this association has not been well characterized in Japan. Methods Based on a nationwide, hospital‐based data set (2005‐2016), a multicenter case‐control study was conducted (63,232 cancer cases and 63,232 controls matched for sex, age, admission date, and admitting hospital). The total amount of lifetime alcohol consumption (drink‐years) was recalled for each patient by multiplication of the daily amount of standardized alcohol use (drinks per day) and the duration of drinking (years). Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated for overall and specific cancer sites via conditional logistic regression with restricted cubic splines, with adjustments made for smoking, occupational class, and comorbidities. Lifetime abstainers served as the reference group. Results Spline curves showed a dose‐response association with overall cancer risk: the minimum risk was at 0 drink‐years, and the OR at 10 drink‐years was 1.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04‐1.06). In comparison with lifetime abstainers, the OR for >0 to 20 drink‐years was 1.06 (95% CI, 1.01‐1.11). Those who drank 2 drinks or fewer per day had elevated odds for overall cancer risk across all duration‐of‐drinking categories. The same patterns were observed at light to moderate levels of drinking for most gastrointestinal/aerodigestive cancers as well as breast and prostate cancers. Analyses stratified by sex, different drinking/smoking behaviors, and occupational class mostly showed the same patterns for overall cancer incidence associated with light to moderate levels of drinking. Conclusions In Japan, even light to moderate alcohol consumption appears to be associated with elevated cancer risks.

Cancer risk in road transportation workers: a national representative cohort study with 600,000 person-years of follow-up

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“…A study from Japan, which is another country with a high prevalence of ALDH2*2 allele carriers, reported that even light to moderate level of drinking was associated with an increased risk of cancer (OR for 10 drink‐years = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.06 compared to never drinkers) 27 . In addition, those who drank 2 or fewer drinks per day had an increased cancer risk regardless of the drinking duration 27 . Our results further indicated that, among those genetically susceptible to the carcinogenic effect of alcohol, lower educational levels further enhanced the risk of alcohol‐related HNC.…”

Human NINEIN polymorphism at codon 1111 is associated with the risk of colorectal cancer

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“…At present, the implementation of CRC population screening has contributed to the reduction of morbidity and mortality rates, which indicates that the earlier the CRC diagnosis is confirmed, the more effective and easier the therapeutic treatment to patients will be, resulting in favorable prognoses. Among the different epidemiological factors, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption have been known to be associated with a higher risk of CRC (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). In particular, alcohol consumption shows a significantly higher association with CRC in Japanese individuals compared with Western populations (7).…”