Milk Lowers Risk Of Colorectal Cancer, According to Study

By Caren Mckinney, | Health | 0 Comments

Increasing milk consumption and calcium intake can lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer, researchers report.

Researchers examined the data of 10 studies from five countries which included 534,536 individuals, among whom, 4,992 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 6 and 16 years of follow-up.

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, assessed the relationship between dairy food consumption, calcium intake, and colorectal cancer risk.

The researchers examined a wide variety of food sources containing calcium, however, only milk consumption was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer, particularly cancers of the distal colon and rectum.

The researchers found the risk of colorectal cancer decreased with increased milk consumption. People who consumed about 8 oz. of milk a day had a 12 percent reduction in risk compared to people who consumed less, about 2.5 oz. a day.

The study authors concluded, “Higher consumption of milk and calcium is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer.”