Alcohol Not Seen as Big Lung Cancer Risk

Alcohol use does not appear to be strongly associated with development of lung cancer, a review of existing studies on diet and cancer concludes.

Reuters reported Oct. 3 that alcoholics have a high rate of mortality from lung cancer, but researchers said "the greater risk may be explained, in part or entirely, by the fact that the people in these populations were also more likely to smoke."

However, the studies found some elevated risk: for example, nonsmoking drinkers who consumed 15 grams of alcohol or more daily had a six-fold increase in risk of developing lung cancer, "although the absolute risk of lung cancer in this group is, of course, small," the research said.