A large-scale study led by Professor Masahiro Kikuchi of Aichi Medical University in Japan shows that women who consume more than 15 grams of alcohol per day have a three-fold higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to non-drinkers.
The research team tracked 36,000 women aged 40 to 79 across 24 regions in Japan for seven and a half years. During the study period, 151 of these women developed breast cancer. The findings revealed that those who consumed an average of more than 15 grams of alcohol daily had a 2.9 to 3 times higher risk of breast cancer than non-drinkers. Additionally, the study indicated that women who consumed less than 15 grams of alcohol per day had no significant difference in their risk of breast cancer compared to non-drinkers.
Eri Hayashi, a lecturer at Aichi Medical University who participated in the study, stated that heavy drinking can lead to increased secretion of estrogen, which can promote the proliferation of breast cells.