Alcohol consumption and risk of prostate cancer: The Harvard Alumni HealthStudy

Background Although many studies suggest that consumption of alcohol increa ses the risk of several site-specific cancers, the evidence remains unclear for prostate cancer. Few data exist on beverage-specific associations as w ell as lifetime patterns of alcohol consumption and prostate cancer risk. Methods We prospectively followed 7612 Harvard alumni (mean age 66.6 years) from 1988 through 1993, during which 366 cases of incident prostate cancer occurred. Self-reported alcohol consumption was assessed at baseline from wine, beer, and liquor intake. Previous assessments during college and in 1 977 were also available. Results Overall, the mean total alcohol consumption in 1988 was 123.1 g/wee k, of which 28.6% was from wine, 15.8% from beer, and 55.6% from liquor. Co mpared to men reporting almost never drinking alcohol in 1988, the multivar iate relative risks (95% CI) for 1 drink/month to <3 drinks/week, 3 drinks/ week to <1 drink/day, 1 to <3 drinks/day, and <greater than or equal to>3 d rinks/day were 1.33 (0.88-2.01), 1.65 (1.12-2.44), 1.85 (1.29-2.64), and 1. 33 (0.86-2.05), respectively. Wine or beer consumption was unassociated wit h prostate cancer; however, moderate liquor consumption was associated with a significant 61-67% increased risk of prostate cancer (P. nonlinear trend <0.001). Men initiating alcohol consumption between 1977 and 1988 had a tw ofold increased risk of prostate cancer compared to men with almost no alco hol consumption at both times. Conclusions In contrast to the majority of previous studies, we found a pos itive association between moderate alcohol consumption and the risk of pros tate cancer. Liquor, but not wine or beer, consumption was positively assoc iated with prostate cancer.