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A high alcohol intake has been associated with heightened risk of human papillomavirus infection among men, according to a new study.

Findings of the study appear to be independent of other risk factors for the infection, such as number of sexual partners and smoking. 

The study included more than 1,000 men who were already taking part in the US arm of the HPV in Men (HIM) study. 

Men who habitually drank more tended to be younger, smokers, of white ethnicity, to have had more sexual partners, and they were more likely to be circumcised-which may protect against infection-than those who drank less, the press release stated. 

Average daily alcohol intake among those who tested positive for HPV was significantly higher than among the 514 men who tested negative. It was 4.52 g for those testing positive, compared with 3.13 g for those testing negative, it added.

"Although these results cannot be considered causal and should be interpreted with caution, our findings do provide additional support to current public health messaging regarding the importance of moderate alcohol consumption, smoking cessation, and safe sex practices," authors wrote in the study. 

The study was published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.