Reducing Alcohol Use for Cancer Prevention
Menée en Corée par questionnaire auprès de 4 513 746 participants (âge moyen : 53,6 ans, cette étude de cohorte analyse l'association entre des changements de consommation d'alcool (augmentation, réduction, cessation) et le risque de cancer
Yoo et al. examined the association between changes in alcohol consumption over 2 years and future risk of cancer in a large cohort of 4.5 million beneficiaries of the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Increase in alcohol use was associated with higher cancer risk, whereas reduction in use was associated with lower risk, particularly among participants who started drinking at a heavy level. Alcohol consumption is an important cancer risk factor, with associations observed for at least 7 cancer types (esophageal, oral cavity, laryngeal, pharyngeal, liver, colorectal, and female breast).2 Yet, numerous research questions remain. A well examined dose-response association has been reported, with highest risks observed among people who drink 3 alcoholic beverages per day and higher.3 However, little data are available on the impact of increasing, decreasing, or cessation of alcohol use. Reducing and further quitting alcohol consumption may be hypothesized as factors in lower cancer risk, although few studies have examined these associations. Not only would such information provide additional support for the role of alcohol in cancer development, but it would also inform public health guidance. It is within this context that Yoo et al1 provide evidence suggesting that cancer risk can be meaningfully altered by changing the amount of alcoholic beverages consumed.