Does milk cause cancer?

The answer to this is not simple, so it is easy to see how you might be confused.

Researchers and doctors all agree that diet and cancer are closely linked. And that eating a well balanced diet can help reduce the risk of cancer. What is more difficult to say is exactly which foods are most important in causing or reducing cancer risk. Studies investigating a link between cancer and dairy products have not given clear results. Some research shows an increase in the risk of developing cancer, and some shows a decrease.

Recent research shows that a higher intake of calcium (which is found in diary products) can protect against bowel cancer. But some early research suggests there could be a link between dairy intake and the risk of developing prostate and ovarian cancers. For breast cancer the evidence is conflicting. A link between breast cancer and dairy products has been suggested, possibly because of the type of fats they contain, or contaminants that could be present in these foods. But there is no clear evidence to support this. Another theory is that dairy products might help protect against breast cancer. But again, this needs to be backed up by firm evidence. At the moment the research does not support a strong link between breast cancer risk and intake of milk and dairy products.

So, we need further research to find out more about the links between dairy products and cancer risk. A large European study called EPIC (The European Prospective Investigation of Cancer) is currently looking at the relationship between diet, lifestyle and cancer. It will produce reports on diet and lifestyle and a variety of cancers over the next 10 to 20 years, starting with bowel cancer and breast cancer. If you would like to keep up to date with the findings from the EPIC study you can look on line at the monthly EPIC newsletter.

At the moment, doctors and nutritionists recommend a healthy, well balanced diet. Calcium should be part of that diet, and milk is an important source of calcium. A healthy diet should also be high in fibre and include at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. It is best to avoid smoking and drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol. For more information about healthy living see Cancer Research UK’s News and resources website.