Study: Alcohol May Not Increase the Risk of Colorectal Cancer

A new study by Swedish researchers appears to undercut the hypothesis that excessive consumption of alcohol increases a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer.

The researchers retrospectively studied 179,398 Swedish patients who had been hospitalized for alcoholism between 1970 and 1994.

Reporting in the British Journal of Cancer, the researchers said they "found no excess risk for colorectal cancers, overall or at any anatomical subsite."

"Our findings challenge the hypothesis that alcohol intake is a risk factor for cancer of the large bowel," the researchers concluded.

However, a Japanese study reported in the same issue of the journal suggests that the debate over a link between alcohol and colorectal cancer is not settled.

Japanese researchers followed almost 30,000 residents of Takayama from 1992 to 2000, during which time 161 men and 134 women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

In their analysis of risk factors, the researchers said a link between level of alcohol consumption and colon cancer risk was observed for both the men and women.

Other Sources: British Journal of Cancer