Alcohol consumption and risk of early onset colorectal cancer

The existing evidence has shown a positive association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the evidence is primarily based on studies of CRC in all ages, and the role of alcohol in early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) remains to be determined. A study investigated an association between the increasing incidence of EOCRC and alcohol consumption.

A systematic search was conducted of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and Web of Science up to June 2024 for studies that evaluated the association of alcohol intake with EOCRC risk and report specific results. Three cohort studies and eight case-control studies were eligible and included in the review.
The results were pooled in meta-analyses, which yielded a heightened risk of EOCRC for increased alcohol intake (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.28-1.89). In the subgroup analysis, no significant differences were found in the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing EOCRC across gender, location or tumour site. The results of sensitivity analysis and publication bias indicated that the conclusion was robust.
This meta-analysis provides possible evidence for an association between alcohol consumption and risk of EOCRC. More research is needed in the future to confirm these findings.
Source: Huang S, Yu L, Xiong F, Zhang B, Ruan S. Alcohol consumption and risk of early onset colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Colorectal Dis. 2025; 27:e70046.