In seeming contradiction to previous studies where findings supported the benign or beneficial effects of alcohol consumption, a current study by researchers at the University of Oxford in Great Britain has linked even minimal alcohol use and cancer in women. The type of alcohol consumed was irrelevant.

The so-called Million Women Study of middle-aged women in the United Kingdom found that low to moderate consumption of alcohol increased the risk of and might be responsible for 13 percent of breast, liver, rectal and certain digestive tract cancers.

Researchers determined that only one glass of wine a night might raise the risk of cancer in women.

While prior studies indicated that moderate alcohol consumption could be good for heart health, it now appears that cancer risks from consumption may outweigh the possible cardiovascular benefits.

Oncologists endorsed the findings saying that they had promoted a healthy lifestyle for some time as primary means of reducing cancer risk.

According to the Million Women Study, for every additional drink regularly consumed per day, the increase in incidence up to age 75 years per 1000 for women in developed countries is estimated to be about 15 excess cancers per 1000 women up to age 75.

Million Woman Study Links Alcohol Use to Cancer in Women

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