Moderate alcohol intake linked to lower risk of kidney cancer

A new study has put weight on previous findings that showed that moderate drinking is associated with a lower risk of kidney cancer, which may affect about 1 percent of the general population. In published prospective cohort studies, the risk for such cancer among moderate drinkers is usually about 25 percent less than the risk seen among non-drinkers. This well-done meta-analysis supports these findings: for the more-reliable prospective cohort studies (rather than case-control studies) the current study finds a 29 percent lower risk for subjects in the highest category of alcohol consumption in comparison with subjects in the lowest alcohol category. The findings suggest similar effects among men and women, and for all types of alcohol beverages. The effects are seen at a level of about one drink per day, with little further reduction in risk for greater alcohol consumption. ANI