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The subject of numerous prospective and case control studies has been the possible existence of an independent effect of alcohol use in the aetiology of lung cancer. As alcohol correlates strongly with smoking, possible residual confounding has been a particular concern. Results of several prospective studies were not adjusted for smoking therefore hampering their interpretation. This study by De Stefani E, Correa P and Deneo-Pellegrini H et al, was undertaken to examine in detail the relationship between alcohol use and the risk of adenocarcinoma of the lung
Between July 1998 and July 2000, all incidents of lung adenocarcinoma that were admitted to the 4 main hospitals in Montevideo, Uruguay were considered eligible for examining the roles of diet, drinking and smoking in the aetiology of this malignancy. Subjects for the study were 160 cases with newly diagnosed adenocarcinoma of the lung with 520 hospitalised controls with a condition unrelated to drinking or smoking.
Information about socio-demographic variables, occupational history, smoking history, drinking history, height and weight 5 years before the interview, menstrual and reproductive history (women) and a food frequency form including 64 food items were obtained by use of a questionnaire during interview.
Total alcohol use was not associated with risk of adenocarcinoma of the lung (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.6-2.1). Beer consumption did not correlate with adenocarcinoma risk (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3-1.6). In contrast wine consumption showed a marginal protective effect (OR 0.4, 95% 0.2-1.1) while the use of spirits (predominantly cana derived from sugar cane and grappa derived from grapes) was associated with a 40% increase in risk of lung adenocarcinoma.
The results of the study suggest that wine consumption has a protective effect against the development of adenocarcinoma of the lung, while spirits are a moderate risk factor for this cell type of the lung cancer
Source. De Stefani E, Correa P, Deneo-Pellegrini H et al. Alcohol intake and risk of adenocarcinoma of the lung: a case-control study Uruguay. Lung Cancer 38 (2002) 9-14. |
