Researchers link high dairy product consumption with prostate cancer risk

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic conducted a comprehensive review of 47 studies published since 2006 that included more than a million participants.

The researchers point out that prior studies have shown dairy products are the primary source of calcium in Western countries, where rates of prostate cancer tend to be high. Conversely, there are lower rates of prostate cancer in Asian countries, where intake of dairy products is low.

The study authors found no clear association of increased risk of prostate cancer linked to other animal-based foods, including red and white meat, processed meats, and fish. They also identified a decreased risk of prostate cancer associated with plant-based diets.

“Our review highlighted a cause for concern with high consumption of dairy products,” says John Shin, MD, a Mayo Clinic oncologist and lead author on the study. “The findings also support a growing body of evidence on the potential benefits of plant-based diets.”

Shin adds that more investigation is needed to understand the nature and strength of the dietary associations the research identified.

The lifetime risk of prostate cancer in the United States is 11.6%. It has the highest incidence and second-highest mortality rate of all cancers in men, with more than 30,000 deaths annually.
  

Journal article