Analyse critique du rapport de l'Institut national du cancer « alcool et risque de cancers » : quelles sont les questions que l'on doit se poser ?

INCa published, in November 2007, an important study called “Alcohol and risk of cancers”. The clearly claimed aim was “to investigate knowledge of the relation between alcoholic beverage consumption and risk of cancer and of the public health recommendations”. A brochure meant for physicians was presented to the Press in February 2009. Its content is without any moderations: the consumption of the first alcohol drop is harmful to health, and that whatever the alcoholic beverage is. The study disproves the moderate consumption notion, without any reflection and a sufficient proof. It would be suitable to have cautions about the INCa study and to ask questions about three essential points: alcohol/acetaldehyde metabolism; literature analysis; statistical method analysis.