People who drink moderate levels of alcohol have significantly lower levels of kidney cancer, according to a new analysis of studies on the health benefits of wine, beer and other adult beverages.
The analysis, published in the British Journal of Cancer, found a majority of previous studies have shown that moderate drinking – typically defined as at least one drink per day – may cut the likelihood of developing kidney cancer, which affects about 1 percent of the general population.
Most studies show the cancer risk among moderate drinkers is about 25 percent less than among non-drinkers. Drinkers with even higher, but still moderate, alcohol consumption have even lower risks – about 29 percent – for kidney cancer than those with the lowest alcohol intake levels.
The findings suggest similar effects among men and women, and for all types of alcohol beverages – including beer, wine and mixed drinks.
The effects are seen at a level of about one drink/day, with little further reduction in risk for greater alcohol consumption.