Based on CDC | Does alcohol consumption increase the risk of endometrial cancer?

Alcohol and endometrial cancer: what the evidence shows

• Overall, research suggests that alcohol is not a clear, consistent risk factor for endometrial (uterine) cancer at low to moderate levels, and the association appears mixed. ^[1] Some large analyses indicate a possible “J‑shaped” pattern: very light intake may be associated with slightly lower risk, while higher intake (more than about 2 drinks per day) may be linked to a modestly higher risk. ^[2] Given alcohol’s established links to several other cancers, the safest choice for cancer prevention overall is to drink less or not at all. ^[3]

What large studies and reviews report

• Case‑control and cohort data combined: A meta‑analysis pooling 27 studies (13,120 cases) found no overall association between alcohol use and endometrial cancer; heavy drinking showed only a weak, non‑definitive increase in risk. ^[1]
• Dose–response in prospective cohorts: A meta‑analysis of seven cohort studies (1.5 million participants; 6,086 cases) suggested a J‑shaped curve up to ~1 drink/day showed a small decrease in risk compared with non‑drinkers, but >2 drinks/day was associated with higher risk (about 14% higher at 2–2.5 drinks/day and ~25% higher above 2.5 drinks/day). ^[2]

These patterns indicate that while light drinking does not seem to raise endometrial cancer risk and might even show a small decrease, regular higher‑level drinking could increase risk. ^{[2] [1]}

How might alcohol influence risk?

• Hormone pathways: Alcohol can raise estrogen levels, which is one way alcohol is thought to promote hormone‑sensitive cancers; higher estrogen exposure is a known factor in endometrial biology. ^[4]
• Other cancer mechanisms: Alcohol can damage DNA, increase chronic inflammation, and alter how cells grow and repair broad mechanisms relevant to cancer development. ^[4]

While the hormonal effect is biologically plausible for the endometrium, the epidemiologic signal for endometrial cancer is weaker and less consistent than for cancers like breast, where the alcohol–estrogen link is stronger. ^[4]

Context from cancer prevention guidelines

• Cancer prevention bodies emphasize that any alcohol increases the risk of several cancers (mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, colon/rectum, liver, and breast), and the best strategy to lower cancer risk is to drink less or not at all. ^{[3] [5]}
• For those who do drink, general health guidelines commonly define moderation as up to 1 drink per day for women, which aligns with the levels that did not show increased endometrial risk in cohort analyses. ^{[6] [2]}

Practical takeaways

• Light to moderate alcohol (up to ~1 drink/day): Endometrial cancer risk does not appear increased, and some analyses suggest a slight decrease compared with non‑drinkers, though this may reflect other lifestyle factors and should be interpreted cautiously. ^{[2] [1]}
• Higher intake (>2 drinks/day): Risk may be modestly higher for endometrial cancer based on dose‑response trends. ^[2]
• Broader cancer risk: Regardless of endometrial findings, alcohol clearly increases risk of several other cancers, so reducing alcohol remains a sound prevention step. ^{[3] [5]}

---

Quick reference table

Alcohol level	Approximate amount	Endometrial cancer risk pattern	Notes
None	0 drinks/day	Reference
Very light	Up to ~0.5 drink/day	Slightly lower vs. none	Small decrease observed in cohort trend. [2]
Light	Up to ~1 drink/day	Slightly lower vs. none	Trend suggests small decrease; not definitive. [2]
Moderate to higher	>2 drinks/day	Modestly higher risk	~14% at 2–2.5 drinks/day; ~25% above 2.5 drinks/day. [2]
Overall (mixed designs)	Varied	No clear association overall	Heavy vs. non/low: weak, non‑significant increase. [1]

---

Bottom line

• The relationship between alcohol and endometrial cancer appears mixed and dose‑dependent, with no clear increase at low levels and a possible modest increase at higher intakes. ^{[2] [1]}
• Because alcohol does raise the risk of several other cancers, choosing to limit or avoid alcohol is a practical way to reduce overall cancer risk. ^{[3] [5]}