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Dairy products and cancer
1Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA. jlampe@fhcrc.org
Journal of the American College of Nutrition
|November 15, 2011
Summary
Milk and dairy intake show potential cancer-protective effects, particularly for colorectal and bladder cancers. However, high calcium intake may increase prostate cancer risk, and more research is needed on dairy
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Oncology
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Cancer encompasses over 100 diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and potential metastasis.
- Milk and dairy products contain bioactive compounds that may influence cancer risk and progression.
- Previous reviews suggest associations between dairy intake and certain cancer risks, but evidence is often mixed or limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize current evidence on the association between milk and dairy product consumption and cancer risk.
- To explore the potential role of specific dairy components, including bioactives and live microbes, in cancer prevention.
- To highlight the need for further research into the complex relationship between dairy, the gut microbiome, and cancer.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of epidemiologic literature, including meta-analyses of cohort studies.
- Evaluation of findings from major health organizations' reports (e.g., World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research).
- Consideration of recent large-cohort studies and emerging research on dairy bioactives and the gut microbiome.
Main Results:
- Probable inverse association between milk intake and colorectal cancer risk.
- Limited evidence suggests an inverse association between milk and bladder cancer risk, supported by recent studies on cultured dairy.
- Probable association between high calcium intake and increased prostate cancer risk; evidence for other cancers is mixed or lacking.
Conclusions:
- Dairy products are complex dietary factors with varied associations with cancer risk, influenced by regional composition and specific components.
- Existing meta-analyses support inverse associations for colorectal and bladder cancers, and a positive association for prostate cancer with high calcium intake.
- Further investigation into dairy-derived metabolites and the impact of live microbes in fermented dairy on the gut microbiome and cancer prevention is warranted.
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