Relationship of Alcohol Intake and Sex Steroid Concentrations in Blood in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women: The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

• Published in: Cancer causes & control Vol. 17; no. 8; pp. 1033 - 1043
• Main Authors: Rinaldi, S., Peeters, P. H. M., Bezemer, I. D., Dossus, L., Biessy, C., Sacerdote, C., Berrino, F., Panico, S., Palli, D., Tumino, R., Khaw, K. T., Bingham, S., Allen, N. E., Key, T., Jensen, M. K., Overvad, K., Olsen, A., Tjonneland, A., Amiano, P., Ardanaz, E., Agudo, A., Martinez-García, C., Quirós, J. Ramón, Tormo, M. J., Nagel, G., Linseisen, J., Boeing, H., Schulz, M., Grobbee, D. E., Bueno-De-Mesquita, H. B., Koliva, M., Kyriazi, G., Thrichopoulou, A., Boutron-Ruault, M. C., Clavel-Chapelon, F., Ferrari, P., Slimani, N., Saracci, R., Riboli, E., Kaaks, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Springer 01.10.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alcohol drinking; Alcohol Drinking - blood; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Alcohols; Androgens; Breast cancer; Cancer research; Epidemiology; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood; Hormones; Humans; Male; Medical research; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Neoplasms - blood; Neoplasms - pathology; Nutrition; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Oncology; Postmenopause; Postmenopause - blood; Premenopause - blood; Public health; Questionnaires; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin - metabolism; Sex hormones; Steroids; Womens health; Denmark; United Kingdom > UK; France; Aarhus Denmark
• ISSN: 0957-5243; 1573-7225
• DOI: 10.1007/s10552-006-0041-7

Objective Women with a moderate intake of alcohol have higher concentrations of sex steroids in serum, and higher risk of developing breast cancer, compared to non-drinkers. In the present study, we investigate the relationships between alcohol consumption and serum levels of sex steroids and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in 790 pre- and 1,291 post-menopausal women, who were part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Methods Serum levels of testosterone (T), androstenedione (Δ₄), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), estrone (E₁), estradiol (E₂) and SHBG were measured by direct immunoassays. Free T (fT) and free E₂ (fE₂) were calculated according to mass action laws. Current alcohol intake exposure to alcohol was assessed from dietary questionnaires. Results Pre-menopausal women who consumed more than 25 g/day of alcohol had about 30% higher DHEAS, T and fT, 20% higher Δ₄ and about 40% higher E₁, concentrations compared to women who were non-consumers, E₂, fE₂ and SHBG concentrations showed no association with current alcohol intake. In post-menopausal women, DHEAS, fT, T, Δ₄, and E₁ concentrations were between 10% and 20% higher in women who consumed more than 25 g/day of alcohol compared to non-consumers. E₂ or fE₂ were not associated with alcohol intake at all. SHBG levels were about 15% lower in alcohol consumers compared to non-consumers. Conclusion This study supports the hypothesis of an influence of alcohol intake on sex hormone concentrations in blood.