Alcohol Consumption Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Distal Colon and Rectal Cancer in Japanese Men: The Miyagi Cohort Study

Former and current consumers of alcohol may be at risk of developing cancer in their distal colon and rectum.

This study assessed the risk of colorectal cancer associated with the consumption of alcohol. A total of 21,199 men enrolled in this study and all of them reported how much alcohol they consumed over an 11-year period and whether they were diagnosed with colorectal cancer via self-administered questionnaires.

Researchers discovered the odds of developing cancer in the distal colon and rectum was stacked against current and former drinkers of alcoholic beverages. This 2007 study of Japanese men documented a significant elevation in the risk of colorectal cancer among men who consumed alcohol currently or in the past.