Milk lowers colon cancer risk
12 December 2001
Drinking a lot of milk may protect against colon cancer, a prospective cohort study from Sweden and Finland shows.
Data from 24-year follow-up of 9959 people older than 15 showed people who drank the largest amount of milk had about half the risk of developing colon cancer compared to people who drank the least amount of milk (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2001; 55: 1000-07).
In contrast, consumption of total milk products only reduced the risk of colon cancer by about one-third in people with the highest intake compared to people with the lowest intake. Lactose intake also showed a similar risk reduction in people with a high consumption.
The intake of vitamin D or total dietary calcium did not affect the cancer risk.
But calcium from fermented milk products was linked to a more than two-fold increased cancer risk in the people with the highest intake compared to people with the lowest intake.
Last Reviewed: 10 December 2001
- Medical Observer Weekly 14 December 2001
