Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37905315›Full record

SynthesisEpidemiology and health2023

Cancer risk based on alcohol consumption levels: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Seunghee Jun, Hyunjin Park, Ui-Jeong Kim, Eun Jeong Choi, Hye Ah Lee, Bomi Park, Soon Young Lee, Sun Ha Jee, Hyesook Park

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Epidemiology and health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 58 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
58citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

58 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Gastroenterologist's Guide to Assess for Alcohol Use.Digestive diseases and sciences · 2026
    Review
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Modulation ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Seunghee JunDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyunjin ParkDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ui-Jeong KimDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Eun Jeong ChoiDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hye Ah LeeClinical Trial Center, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Bomi ParkDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Soon Young LeeDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Sun Ha JeeInstitute for Health Promotion, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Hyesook ParkDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesAlcohol consumption is a well-established risk factor for cancer. Despite extensive research into the relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk, the effect of light alcohol consumption on cancer risk remains a topic of debate. To contribute to this discourse, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

methodsOur systematic review aimed to investigate the associations between different levels of alcohol consumption and the risk of several cancer types. We focused on analyzing prospective associations using data from 139 cohort studies. Among them, 106 studies were included in the meta-analysis after a quantitative synthesis.

resultsOur analysis did not find a significant association between light alcohol consumption and all-cause cancer risk (relative risk, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.99 to 1.04), but we observed a dose-response relationship. Light alcohol consumption was significantly associated with higher risks of esophageal, colorectal, and breast cancers. Light to moderate drinking was associated with elevated risks of esophageal, colorectal, laryngeal, and breast cancers. Heavy drinking was also found to contribute to the risk of stomach, liver, pancreas, and prostate cancers, thereby increasing the risk of almost all types of cancer. Additionally, females generally had lower cancer risks compared to males.

conclusionsOur findings highlight that cancer risks extend beyond heavy alcohol consumption to include light alcohol consumption as well. These findings suggest that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption associated with cancer risk. Our results underscore the importance of public health interventions addressing alcohol consumption to mitigate cancer risks.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsColorectal NeoplasmsProstatic NeoplasmsAlcohol DrinkingHumansMaleRisk FactorsAlcohol drinkingCohort studiesMeta-analysisNeoplasmsSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID37905315
PMCPMC10867516

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.