Alcohol intake and breast cancer risk: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).
OBJECTIVE
Most epidemiologic studies have suggested an increased risk of breast cancer with increasing alcohol intake. Using data from 274,688 women participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study (EPIC), we investigated the relation between alcohol intake and the risk of breast cancer.


METHODS
Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) based on Cox proportional hazard models were calculated using reported intake of alcohol, recent (at baseline) and lifetime exposure. We adjusted for known risk factors and stratified according to study center as well as potentially modifying host factors.


RESULTS
During 6.4 years of follow up, 4,285 invasive cases of breast cancer within the age group 35-75 years were identified. For all countries together the IRR per 10 g/day higher recent alcohol intake (continuous) was 1.03 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.05). When adjusted, no association was seen between lifetime alcohol intake and risk of breast cancer. No difference in risk was shown between users and non-users of HRT, and there was no significant interaction between alcohol intake and BMI, HRT or dietary folate.


CONCLUSIONS
This large European study supports previous findings that recent alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer.
Tjønneland
Anne
A
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. annet@cancer.dk
Christensen
Jane
J
Olsen
Anja
A
Stripp
Connie
C
Thomsen
Birthe L
BL
Overvad
Kim
K
Peeters
Petra H M
PH
van Gils
Carla H
CH
Bueno-de-Mesquita
H Bas
HB
Ocké
Marga C
MC
Thiebaut
Anne
A
Fournier
Agnès
A
Clavel-Chapelon
Françoise
F
Berrino
Franco
F
Palli
Domenico
D
Tumino
Rosario
R
Panico
Salvatore
S
Vineis
Paolo
P
Agudo
Antonio
A
Ardanaz
Eva
E
Martinez-Garcia
Carmen
C
Amiano
Pilar
P
Navarro
Carmen
C
Quirós
José R
JR
Key
Tim J
TJ
Reeves
Gillian
G
Khaw
Kay-Tee
KT
Bingham
Sheila
S
Trichopoulou
Antonia
A
Trichopoulos
Dimitrios
D
Naska
Androniki
A
Nagel
Gabriele
G
Chang-Claude
Jenny
J
Boeing
Heiner
H
Lahmann
Petra H
PH
Manjer
Jonas
J
Wirfält
Elisabet
E
Hallmans
Göran
G
Johansson
Ingegerd
I
Lund
Eiliv
E
Skeie
Guri
G
Hjartåker
Anette
A
Ferrari
Pietro
P
Slimani
Nadia
N
Kaaks
Rudolf
R
Riboli
Elio
E
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000431:Ethanol