title: Alcohol drinking and total cancer risk: an evaluation based on a systematic review of epidemiologic evidence among the Japanese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted a systematic review of epidemiological evidence to evaluate the association between alcohol drinking and total cancer risk among the Japanese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Original data were obtained from MEDLINE searches using PubMed or from searches of the Ichushi database, complemented with manual searches. Evaluation of associations was based on the strength of evidence and the magnitude of association, together with biological plausibility as previously evaluated by the International Agency of Research on Cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of eight cohort studies identified, six studies, three of which included women, were subjected to evaluation. In men, all six studies showed a weak to moderate positive association between alcohol drinking and total cancer risk. While light drinking had little effect on total cancer risk, heavy drinking of more than 46-69 g of alcohol per day contributed to total cancer risk for most of these Japanese populations. However, no association was reported in women in any of the three studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that there is convincing evidence that alcohol drinking increases the risk of total cancer in the Japanese population, specifically among heavy drinking men.
authors: Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan. mnminoue@gan2.res.ncc.go.jp
authors: Manami
authors: M
authors: Inoue
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Wakai
authors: Chisato
authors: C
authors: Nagata
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Mizoue
authors: Keitaro
authors: K
authors: Tanaka
authors: Ichiro
authors: I
authors: Tsuji
authors: Shoichiro
authors: S
authors: Tsugane
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution