Prostate Cancer

Dairy Products Linked to Prostate Cancer
A long-term study suggests an association between consumption of dairy products and the risk of prostate cancer. Researchers tracked more than 20,000 male physicians for 11 years and found a moderate elevation in prostate cancer risk associated with higher intake of five dairy products, including milk, cheese, and ice cream.¹

Men who drank more than six glasses of milk per week had lower levels of vitamin D, which has been shown to protect the prostate. Milk-drinking also raises the amount of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in the blood, which is linked to cancer risk.

Consumption of animal foods, protein, and calcium in relation to risk of prostate cancer was studied as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Researchers found a high intake of dairy protein was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. An estimated 35 gram per day increase in consumption of dairy protein was associated with a 32 percent increase in the risk of prostate cancer. Calcium from dairy products was also positively associated with risk, but not calcium from other foods. These results support the hypothesis that a high intake of protein or calcium from dairy products may increase the risk for prostate cancer.²

1. Chan JM, Stampfer MJ, Ma J, et al. Dairy products, calcium, and prostate cancer risk in the Physician's Health Study. Presented at the 91st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 2000.

2. Allen NE, Key TJ, Appleby PN. Animal foods, protein, calcium and prostate cancer risk: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Br J Cancer. 2008;98(9):1574-1581.

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