RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Alcohol Consumption in Relation to Plasma Sex Hormones, Prolactin, and Sex Hormone–Binding Globulin in Premenopausal Women
JF Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention
JO Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
FD American Association for Cancer Research
SP 2943
OP 2953
DO 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0982
VO 23
IS 12
A1 Hirko, Kelly A.
A1 Spiegelman, Donna
A1 Willett, Walter C.
A1 Hankinson, Susan E.
A1 Eliassen, A. Heather
YR 2014
UL http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/23/12/2943.abstract
AB Background: Alcohol consumption is a consistent risk factor for breast cancer, and evidence suggests premenopausal plasma hormones are associated with breast cancer. Methods: Plasma concentrations of estradiol, estrone, estrone sulfate, testosterone, androstenedione, progesterone, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in samples collected in 1996–99. Average alcohol intake was calculated from semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires collected in 1995 and 1999. We used generalized linear models to calculate geometric mean hormone concentrations across alcohol categories and the percentage difference for the highest versus lowest category. Results: Comparing women who consumed >20 g/d with nondrinkers, levels were 25.7% higher for luteal estrone (geometric mean, 106 vs. 84.5 pg/mL; Ptrend = 0.001), 27.2% higher for luteal estradiol (182 vs. 143 pg/mL; Ptrend = 0.006), and 16.8% higher for SHBG (85.6 vs. 73.3 nmol/L; Ptrend = 0.03); concentrations of free testosterone were 17.9% lower (0.16 vs. 0.20 ng/dL; Ptrend = 0.002). Women consuming >10 g/d compared with nondrinkers had 26.5% higher concentrations of follicular estrone sulfate (950 vs. 751 pg/mL; Ptrend = 0.04). We did not observe significant associations between alcohol and the other sex hormones evaluated. Significant positive associations were observed with beer intake, but not other alcohol types, for DHEA (Pinteraction = 0.003) and androstenedione (Pinteraction = 0.006). Conclusion: Alcohol consumption was significantly positively associated with plasma luteal estrogen concentrations, but not with androgen levels, nor estrone or estradiol measured in the follicular phase. Impact: Differences in premenopausal estrogen levels may contribute to the association between alcohol and breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(12); 2943–53. ©2014 AACR.