Milk is considered the only food containing approximately all different substances known to be essential for human nutrition. The most commonly consumed dairy products include milk, cheese, yoghurt, cream and butter. Dairy foods have been regarded as both protective and occasionally harmful in terms of cancer risk. It is not proved that dairy foods can protect against cancer or increase cancer risk. The proven health benefits of dairy foods considerably offset the unproven harm. Dairy foods should be included in the meal as part of a varied and nutritious diet as they are essential to maintaining good bone and dental health. The Cancer Council and USDA recommend three servings of milk and milk products daily.

In this article, we have collected all the information related to the impact of milk and dairy products on different types of cancer. Cancer risk is strongly affected by diet. Many studies have examined the relationship between dairy consumption and cancer. Some studies suggest that dairy products may protect against cancer, while others studies suggest that it may increase risk.

This page is about dairy products and cancer risk for the general public. If youve had a cancer diagnosis, speak to your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your diet.

Bowel Cancer

As per different studies, eating and drinking milk and dairy products can decrease the risk of bowel cancer. But there is no proof to suggest that it increases or decreases the risk of any other type of cancer. There is good evidence that dairy products reduce the risk of bowel cancer. Milk and cheese are two essential milk products that help reduce bowel cancer. Dairy products contain proteins and vitamins that are important for your health. This provides calcium which is essential for strong bones. And high calcium content could be one-way dairy products decrease bowel cancer risk.

Dairy alternatives (particularly soy products) can also contain these essential proteins and vitamins. Try to choose products with added calcium and B12. Dairy alternatives have important health benefits. But there is not enough research to know if they can also reduce the risk of bowel cancer. However, low fat, low sugar dairy or dairy alternatives make up a part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related death, and affects over 10 million men worldwide. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men due to diet-related factors. Prostate cancer risk is high in men with high dairy intake. Whereas eating more plant-based foods is shown to protect prostate health. According to research published in the journal Epidemiological Reviews, the risk of prostate cancer is doubled in men with high dairy intake, whereas eating more plant-based foods can lower prostate cancer risk and its recurrence.

The prostate gland is located just below the bladder in men. Its primary function is to produce prostate fluid, part of semen. Milk is a complex fluid containing a huge variety of bioactive compounds. Some may protect against cancer, while others may have adverse effects.

It is hard to measure how much dairy people eat over a long period. And there could be other factors that are different in people who eat and drink a lot of dairy products. It is unclear whether dairy increases the risk of prostate cancer in current studies.

And remember, eating or drinking some dairy has health benefits also. NHS Eatwell guide recommends having it as part of a healthy, balanced diet. It recommends to pick dairy or dairy alternative products that are low in fat and sugar.

The majority of studies suggest that high dairy consumption may increase the risk of prostate cancer. This may be due to several bioactive compounds found in milk.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Overall, the evidence indicates that dairy products have no effects on breast cancer. Some studies suggest that dairy products, excluding milk, may have protective effects. There is no consistent evidence that dairy products affect breast cancer. Some types of dairy products may have protective effects. The best thing you can do is eat a healthy, balanced diet. Choosing low-fat, low-sugar dairy and dairy alternatives will help you get to and keep a healthy weight, reducing your risk of cancer.

In general, there is no clear evidence linking the consumption of dairy products with breast cancer. Further research is needed to fully understand all the potential mechanisms that milk products may help protect against breast cancer.

Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is the fourth most common cancer globally. Many significant studies have found no clear association between dairy intake and stomach cancer. Possible protective milk components may include conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and certain probiotic bacteria in fermented milk products. On the other hand, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) may promote stomach cancer. In many cases, what cows feed on often affects their milk's nutritional quality and health properties. For example, milk from pasture-raised cows that graze on bracken ferns contains ptaquiloside, a toxic plant compound that may increase the risk of stomach cancer.

In general, there is no clear evidence linking the consumption of dairy products with stomach cancer. Further research is needed to fully understand all the potential mechanisms that milk products may help protect against stomach cancer.

Colorectal Cancer

According to the Third Expert Report by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, there is strong evidence that dairy products reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Here is strong evidence that dairy products are protective against colorectal cancer. The effect of dairy products in reducing colorectal cancer risk is likely mediated, at least in part, by calcium.

Other components in milk products that could also be responsible for this protective effect include vitamin D, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), butyric acid (short-chain fatty acid), lactoferrin, and lactic acid bacteria and sphingolipids. According to the Third Expert Report published in 2018 by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, there is strong evidence that dairy products (total dairy, milk, cheese) are associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer.

According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, the authority on diet and cancer, there is strong evidence that milk products (total dairy, milk, cheese) reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Several components in milk products that could be responsible for this protective effect include calcium, vitamin D, lactoferrin and butyric acid.

Bladder Cancer

According to the Third Expert Report by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, studies have suggested a reduced risk of bladder cancer associated with milk product intake. However, no conclusions can be drawn regarding a possible association due to limited evidence.

As with most cancers, there is no single cause of bladder cancer. The risk of developing bladder cancer increases with age, and it usually occurs in people older than 65 years. There are several known risk factors for bladder cancer.

According to the Third Expert Report published in 2018 by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, there is limited evidence on the association between milk products (milk, cheese, yoghurt) and bladder cancer, such that no conclusion can be drawn. The previous report indicated suggestive evidence of reduced risk with milk, and the latest report judged that a decision could not be removed on milk or dairy products.

The evidence on the relationship between milk products (milk, yoghurt, cheese) and a reduced risk of bladder cancer is limited, and no conclusions can be drawn. More studies are needed for conclusive answers.

While calcium, vitamin D and lactic acid bacteria may have protective effects against bladder cancer, more mechanistic studies are needed to investigate their anti-cancer properties.

How Much Milk Can You Safely Drink?

Since dairy may raise the risk of prostate cancer, men should avoid consuming excessive amounts of milk. The current dietary guidelines for dairy recommend 23 servings or cups per day. But different studies also recommend including a moderate amount of milk and dairy products to ensure adequate intake of minerals, such as calcium and potassium. They do not account for possible cancer risk. So far, official recommendations have not put a maximum limit on dairy consumption. There is not enough information for evidence-based recommendations. However, it may be a good idea to limit your intake to no more than two servings of dairy products per day or the equivalent of two glasses of milk.