Daily Glass of Milk Linked to Reduced Bowel Cancer Risk
Groundbreaking research suggests that drinking a large glass of milk each day could lower bowel cancer risk by almost a fifth. According to the largest study on the topic, an extra 300 mg of calcium daily — roughly the amount in half a liter of milk — was linked to a 17% reduced risk of the disease. Notably, non-dairy calcium sources like fortified soy milk showed a similar protective effect.
Lead researcher Dr. Keren Papier from Oxford University stated, "This comprehensive study provides robust evidence that dairy products may help prevent bowel cancer, largely due to the calcium they contain. Calcium appears to have a similar effect in both dairy and non-dairy sources, suggesting it’s the primary factor responsible for risk reduction."
Bowel Cancer on the Rise
Second only to lung cancer, bowel cancer is the third most common type worldwide, causing nearly two million cases and a million deaths annually. Although death rates have stabilized in high-income countries, global cases are expected to rise to 3.2 million by 2040, with 1.6 million deaths. Worryingly, the disease is increasing among younger people. Between the early 1990s and 2018, bowel cancer cases in UK adults aged 25-49 surged by 22%.
Lifestyle Changes Can Prevent Most Cases
More than half of bowel cancer cases could be prevented by diet and lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy weight, consuming more fiber, limiting alcohol, staying physically active, and avoiding smoking all help reduce risk. Notably, around one in five cases can be attributed to eating too much red or processed meat.
Calcium’s Role in Cancer Prevention
Previous studies have hinted that dairy products may help prevent bowel cancer, but results have been inconclusive. Dr. Papier and her team used dietary data from over 540,000 women over nearly 17 years to examine how 97 foods, drinks, and nutrients impact bowel cancer risk.
The study robustly showed that calcium can protect against bowel cancer, affirming that alcohol and red or processed meat increase risk. Consuming an extra 20g of alcohol daily — about what’s in a large glass of wine — was linked to a 15% higher risk, while eating an additional 30g of red or processed meat per day was associated with an 8% higher risk.
Calcium’s Potential Mechanisms
Dr. Papier explained, "We believe calcium can protect against bowel cancer by binding to bile acids and free fatty acids in the large intestine, reducing their cancer-causing potential." She expects the protective effects of calcium to extend to men and younger people, but further research is needed.
Sophia Lowes from Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, commented, "A balanced and varied diet, healthy weight, and quitting smoking are the best ways to lower bowel cancer risk. This means eating less alcohol and red/processed meat, and more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Dairy products like milk can also be part of a cancer-reducing diet."
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