What kinds of alcoholic beverages have been associated with breast cancer risk?
Some researchers reported that the consumption of beer and hard liquor, such as vodka and gin, had a greater association with breast cancer risk than the consumption of wine. Others have reported no difference in the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. Studies in European countries, such as Italy, where wine is consumed regularly at dinner, have also reported that the consumption of alcohol is associated with increased breast cancer risk. Therefore, the current evidence suggests that it is probably the alcohol in wine, beer and liquor and not some other component of these beverages that is associated with the risk of breast cancer. How might alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer? Several possible biological pathways by which alcohol might be acting to influence the risk of breast cancer have been suggested. Many researchers are analyzing the influence of alcohol on the levels of hormones in the body, particularly estrogen. Estrogen is important for normal development of the repro
