Alcohol intake and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in men and women.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of alcohol intake on risk of NHL is unclear. We therefore conducted a population-based case-control study to examine the association between alcohol and NHL risk.


METHODS
613 NHL cases and 480 population controls in Sweden reported their average consumption of beer, wine, and liquor 2 years before the study. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between alcohol intake and NHL risk.


RESULTS
Intake of total alcohol, beer, wine, or liquor was not associated with risk of overall NHL. There was no difference in risk of NHL among those who habitually consumed above 19.1 g of ethanol per day, compared to those who consumed on average 0-2.2 g of ethanol per day (OR = 1.2 (95% CI: 0.8, 1.7); Ptrend = 0.29). However, the association was significantly positive among males (OR = 1.8 (95% CI: 1.1, 2.9); Ptrend = 0.06). Total alcohol, beer, wine, or liquor intake was not associated with any major histopathologic subtype of NHL examined, apart from an association between high wine consumption and increased risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol does not appear to be a major etiologic factor for overall NHL, nor its common subtypes.
Chang
Ellen T
ET
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. ellen.chang@meb.ki.se
Smedby
Karin Ekström
KE
Zhang
Shumin M
SM
Hjalgrim
Henrik
H
Melbye
Mads
M
Ost
Ake
A
Wolk
Alicja
A
Adami
Hans-Olov
HO
Glimelius
Bengt
B
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors