Alcohol May Increase Leptin Levels, Cancer Risk

Alcohol May Increase Leptin Levels, Cancer Risk

Rockville, Md.--Moderate alcohol consumption (15 g/d to 30 g/d, orroughly two to three drinks) increases serum leptin levels in postmenopausalwomen and may make moderate drinkers susceptible to diseases associated withchronic elevations of the hormone, including cancer, according to a studypublished in the Nov. 19 issue of the Journal of the National CancerInstitute (95, 22:1722-5, 2003) (www.jncicancerspectrum.oupjournals.org/jnci).

During the three-period, cross-over study, 53 healthy, non-smoking,postmenopausal women drank either zero (0 g of alcohol), one (15 g of alcohol)or two drinks (30 g of alcohol); serum leptin levels were assessed afteraccounting for differences in body mass index (BMI). Women who consumed 15 g/dor 30 g/d of alcohol had 7.3 percent and 8.9 percent higher serum leptin levels,respectively, compared to women who consumed 0 g/d of alcohol, according to thestudy. Premenopausal women (49 to 54 years of age) showed a significantlygreater association between alcohol consumption level with the increase in serumleptin levels than older women (55 to 79 years of age).