Low-to-moderate alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk by age 50 years among women in Germany.
Studies of the association between alcohol drinking and breast cancer show a tendency towards an increase in risk for high consumption levels but yield less consistent results for low-to-moderate levels, particularly among premenopausal women. In a population-based case-control study in Germany, the authors determined the effect of alcohol consumption at low-to-moderate levels on breast cancer risk among women up to age 50 years. The study included 706 case women whose breast cancer had been newly diagnosed in 1992-1995 and 1,381 residence- and age-matched controls. In multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratios for breast cancer were 0.71 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54, 0.91) for average ethanol intake of 1-5 g/day, 0.67 (95% CI: 0.50, 0.91) for intake of 6-11 g/day, 0.73 (95% CI: 0.51, 1.05) for 12-18 g/day, 1.10 (95% CI: 0.73, 1.65) for 19-30 g/day, and 1.94 (95% CI: 1.18, 3.20) for > or = 31 g/day. The association with high daily ethanol intake of > or = 19 g was modified by educational level, such that odds ratios were 3.7, 1.6, and 0.7 for women with low, moderate, and high levels of education, respectively. These data suggest that low-level consumption of alcohol does not increase breast cancer risk in premenopausal women.
Kropp
S
S
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Deutsches Krebs-forschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany.
Becher
H
H
Nieters
A
A
Chang-Claude
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017584:Reproductive History; D012307:Risk Factors