ALCOHOL INTAKE AND RISK OF BREAST-CANCER - THE EURAMIC STUDY

To evaluate the association of alcohol intake with the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women, we analyzed the data from an internat ional case-control study conducted in five European countries (FRG, Sw itzerland, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain). Information o n alcohol intake was available in 315 cases and 364 controls. Medians for the tertiles of alcohol intake among current drinkers were 1.7, 6. 0, and 20.0 g/day. Adjusted relative risks (and 95% confidence interva ls) of breast cancer for each tertile of intake in current drinkers, c ompared to never drinkers, were 1.00 (0.60-1.67), 1.01 (0.60-1.73), an d 1.18 (0.69-2.03). The adjusted relative risk for ex-drinkers was 1.7 3 (1.07-2.79). Among both current drinkers and ex-drinkers, the relati ve risk was higher for those with body mass index above the median com pared to those with body mass index below the median. These results do not support a dose-response effect of alcohol on breast cancer risk, although consumption levels were too low to exclude increased risk wit h high regular intake. Further research is necessary to evaluate the r isk of developing breast cancer among ex-drinkers and the potential in teraction between body mass index and alcohol drinking.