A prospective assessment of moderate alcohol intake and major chronic diseases.

In this paper the relation between alcohol intake assessed on the 1980 Nurses' Health Study questionnaire and subsequent risk of major chronic diseases in this cohort of middle-aged is reviewed. An increased risk of breast cancer among women consuming as little as 3 to 9 drinks per weeks is consistent with findings in other prospective studies. This same level of intake is inversely related to coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke; however, the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is increased. Alcohol intake is also inversely related to a risk of gall stones and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in this cohort.