Wine and cancer risk in the context of a healthy diet and lifestyle
A headline saying that alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer by 30% sounds pretty scary. But what does it actually mean?
Can a glass of wine with the meal still be enjoyed or is there a health/cancer risk?
Relative risks are often reported in newspaper headlines but this information is meaningless without the context of other dietary and lifestyle factors and the absolute risks in a population. Up to now, evidences on the relationship between cancer risk and light-to-moderate alcohol consumption are very weak, since most of the studies have not taken into account several factors, mainly type of alcoholic beverage consumed, drinking pattern, dietary patern and other lifestyle factors. Cancer risk attributed to moderate wine consumption in the context of a healthy diet and lifestyle will be discussed and adressed.