Do dairy products increase your prostate cancer risk?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the U.S. For a number of years, there's been speculation that dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Was it due to the hormones pumped into dairy cows? Was it the milk fat? Was it the homogenization process that made the fat particles so small that they could more easily clog blood vessels? Actually, it was something quite different.
A welcome mat for prostate cancer
According to a number of studies, milk calcium seems to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. I was not able to find studies related to calcium supplements and an increased risk for prostate cancer.
In a study that involved 2,776 men, French researchers found that 69 of the subjects developed prostate cancer over a period of 7.7 years. They determined that "a higher risk of prostate cancer was observed among subjects with higher dairy product" intake. Surprisingly, they "identified a harmful effect of yoghurt consumption upon the risk of prostate cancer." For the men who tended to eat yoghurt, the level of calcium intake didn't matter. It appears that the more yoghurt they ate, the better the chance of getting prostate cancer.
The University of California Department of Epidemiology also found an increased risk of getting prostate cancer if your diet includes dairy. They analyzed the diets of 1,202 men diagnosed with prostate cancer over a 10-year period and found that dairy (and, coincidentally, fresh tomatoes) was responsible for a small elevation in risk.
The Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia states that there may be a relationship between calcium and vitamin D. Researchers posed the idea that calcium might interfere with the natural protective mechanism of vitamin D, which is actually a steroid hormone and not a vitamin.
Vitamin D, which you can take as a supplement (D3 is the best type) or get from the sun, is usually included in calcium supplements (along with magnesium). It's an interesting proposition that calcium might stop vitamin D's activity.
Should you stop consuming dairy products?
If prostate cancer is in your family history or you've been diagnosed with the disease, it might make sense for you to avoid all dairy products. Even if it is only a small additional risk of getting cancer, are your dairy products more important than your health?
Additional sources:
Nutr Cancer. 2004;48(1):22-7
Br J Nutr. 2006 Mar;95(3):539-45
Cancer Causes Control. 2006 Mar;17(2):199-208
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 May;81(5):1147-54
* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.
"Let food be thy medicine and
medicine be thy food" - Hippocrates
A welcome mat for prostate cancer
According to a number of studies, milk calcium seems to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. I was not able to find studies related to calcium supplements and an increased risk for prostate cancer.
In a study that involved 2,776 men, French researchers found that 69 of the subjects developed prostate cancer over a period of 7.7 years. They determined that "a higher risk of prostate cancer was observed among subjects with higher dairy product" intake. Surprisingly, they "identified a harmful effect of yoghurt consumption upon the risk of prostate cancer." For the men who tended to eat yoghurt, the level of calcium intake didn't matter. It appears that the more yoghurt they ate, the better the chance of getting prostate cancer.
The University of California Department of Epidemiology also found an increased risk of getting prostate cancer if your diet includes dairy. They analyzed the diets of 1,202 men diagnosed with prostate cancer over a 10-year period and found that dairy (and, coincidentally, fresh tomatoes) was responsible for a small elevation in risk.
The Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia states that there may be a relationship between calcium and vitamin D. Researchers posed the idea that calcium might interfere with the natural protective mechanism of vitamin D, which is actually a steroid hormone and not a vitamin.
Vitamin D, which you can take as a supplement (D3 is the best type) or get from the sun, is usually included in calcium supplements (along with magnesium). It's an interesting proposition that calcium might stop vitamin D's activity.
Should you stop consuming dairy products?
If prostate cancer is in your family history or you've been diagnosed with the disease, it might make sense for you to avoid all dairy products. Even if it is only a small additional risk of getting cancer, are your dairy products more important than your health?
Additional sources:
Nutr Cancer. 2004;48(1):22-7
Br J Nutr. 2006 Mar;95(3):539-45
Cancer Causes Control. 2006 Mar;17(2):199-208
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 May;81(5):1147-54
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.
medicine be thy food" - Hippocrates
posted by Edith Gaylord | 7:23 AM
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