Research shows that a daily glass of milk can reduce the risk of colon cancer by a fifth
Drinking a large glass of milk every day can reduce the risk of bowel cancer by almost a fifth, according to the largest study into diet and the disease.
An additional daily 300 mg of calcium, about the amount found in half a liter of milk, was associated with a 17% lower risk of colon cancer, researchers said, with non-dairy sources of calcium such as fortified soy milk having a similar protective effect. .
“This comprehensive study provides robust evidence that dairy products can help prevent bowel cancer, largely thanks to the calcium they contain,” said Dr Keren Papier, the study’s first author and senior nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Oxford.
“Calcium was found to have a similar effect in both dairy and non-dairy sources, suggesting that this was the main factor responsible for reducing risk,” she added.
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, causing almost 2 million cases and a million deaths every year. The number of new diagnoses is expected to reach 3.2 million by 2040, while the number of deaths will rise to 1.6 million, largely due to rising in rich countries. For unknown reasons, colon cancer is increasing rapidly among young people around the world. Between the early 1990s and 2018, the number of British adults aged 25 to 49 diagnosed with bowel cancer increased by 22%.
Although the trends are concerning, more than half of colon cancer cases can be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating more fiber, drinking less alcohol, being physically active and not smoking all help reduce the risk. Diet is particularly important: one in five cases is linked to eating too much red or processed meat.
Previous studies have suggested that dairy products may help prevent colon cancer, but the evidence has been inconsistent. For the latest study, Papier and her colleagues used dietary data from more than 540,000 women over nearly 17 years to investigate how 97 foods, drinks and nutrients influence colon cancer risk.
The study found compelling evidence that calcium can protect against colon cancer and confirmed that alcohol and red or processed meat increase the risk. Drinking an extra 20 grams of alcohol per day, about the amount found in a large glass of wine, was linked to a 15% higher risk of colon cancer, while eating 30 grams more red and processed meat was linked to a increase in disease by 8%. .
The study focused on postmenopausal women, but Papier said the protective effects of calcium are expected to apply to men and younger people. “We think that calcium may protect against colorectal cancer by binding to bile acids and free fatty acids in the colon, reducing their carcinogenic potential,” she says. Details are published in Nature Communications.
Sophia Lowes from Cancer Research UK, who funded the study, said: “Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in people in Britain, which is why it is so important that we know how to prevent it.
“Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, in addition to maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking, is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of colon cancer. This includes reducing alcohol and red and processed meats, and eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Dairy products such as milk can also be part of a diet that reduces the risk of colon cancer.
“We look forward to further research, including the effects of specific ingredients such as calcium, to ensure fewer people are affected by this devastating disease.”