Reviewing Light to Moderate alcohol consumption as a cause for cancer

Abstract

This microreview takes a look at three articles based on cohort studies to review the science of alcohol as a cause for cancer from the past half-decade and determine the risk associated with drinking alcohol as a cause of cancer. Previous literature thought that there was no risk for the light to moderate drinker. Further analysis done by three different studies comprised of hundreds of more articles has since linked alcohol to cancer for the light drinker and quantified the risk associated with consumption. The results of the articles found that there is a 1.02-fold risk for those who have between 5-10 grams a day and a 1.2-fold risk for those who have 25 grams a day. This analysis enhances the idea that increased consumption of alcohol leads to increased risk of cancer induced by alcohol but their mechanisms remain unclear.