British researchers reported Tuesday that women who consume low to moderate amounts of alcohol face an increased risk of several types of cancers. Based on their data, they conclude that alcohol may account for nearly 13 percent of all cancers of the breast, liver, rectum, and upper digestive tract combined in the UK.

Researchers at the University of Oxford examined the relationship between alcohol consumption and several types of cancer among nearly 1.3 million middle-aged women enrolled in the UK’s Million Women Study. About a quarter of the women in the study reported abstaining from alcohol, but among the other three-quarters, the average alcohol consumption was one drink per day; very few reported having more than three drinks per day.

In the study that appears in the February 24^th online edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers compared the lightest drinkers – those who consumed two or fewer drink per week – with those who drank more. After an average follow-up time of seven years, they found that each additional alcoholic drink regularly consumed per day was associated with 11 additional breast cancers per 1000 women up to age 75; one additional cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx; one additional cancer of the rectum; and an increase of 0.7 each for esophageal, laryngeal, and liver cancers. The background rate for all of these cancers combined is about 118 cases per 1,000 women. The type of alcohol consumed (wine, beer, or liquor) did not matter.

While the cancer risk to individuals conferred by drinking alcohol is not large, the researchers stress that given the prevalence of alcohol consumption in most Westernized countries, it likely results in a large number of cancers that are otherwise preventable, accounting for perhaps 13 percent of all cancers in the UK.

Previous studies have suggested that moderate alcohol consumption can benefit heart health and may reduce the chances of heart disease. While the present study did not address heart disease risk, the results call into question the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. However, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men, ahead of all types of cancers combined, so there may still be an overall health benefit from moderate alcohol consumption.

Further research will hopefully shed light on who, if anyone, may benefit from moderate alcohol consumption and what is the "safest" amount to drink. Whether there is any overall health benefit to you from drinking alcohol may depend on your personal history and risk factors (e.g. family history of cancer or heart disease, cholesterol levels). Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and your alcohol consumption to find out if you should change your drinking habits.

For more information about breast cancer prevention, see How can I prevent breast cancer? in the Healia Health Guides. If you have a question about your alcohol consumption, ask the Healia Health Community on Alcohol or Ask the Experts at Healia Health Communities.