Alcohol consumption and prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis of the dose-risk relation

Eur J Cancer Prev. 2012 Jul;21(4):350-9. doi: 10.1097/CEJ.0b013e32834dbc11.

Abstract

Inconsistent results on the relationship between alcohol drinking and prostate cancer have been found. In order to provide a definite quantification of the dose-risk relation, we investigated the risk of prostate cancer at different levels of alcohol consumption, by conducting a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. We performed a literature search using PubMed of all case-control and cohort studies published as original articles in English up to December 2010. We identified 50 case-control and 22 cohort studies, including a total of 52 899 prostate cancer cases. We derived pooled meta-analytic estimates using random-effects models, taking into account the correlation between estimates. We performed a dose-risk analysis using nonlinear random-effects meta-regression models. The overall relative risk for any alcohol drinking compared with non/occasional drinking was 1.06 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.10]. The relative risks were 1.05 (95% CI, 1.02-1.08), 1.06 (95% CI, 1.01-1.11), and 1.08 (95% CI, 0.97-1.20) for light (≤1 drink/day), moderate (>1 to <4 drinks/day), and heavy alcohol drinking (≥4 drinks/day), respectively. This comprehensive meta-analysis provided no evidence of a material association between alcohol drinking and prostate cancer, even at high doses.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects*
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma / etiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Ethanol / administration & dosage*
  • Ethanol / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Risk
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Ethanol