According to the largest study of its kind, a daily glass of milk could reduce your risk of bowel cancer by nearly a fifth. The research, conducted by the University of Oxford, provides the most compelling evidence yet that calcium can help protect against this deadly disease.
However, they also found that consuming the equivalent of a daily glass of wine could increase your risk of bowel cancer by 15 per cent. Experts have responded to these findings by advising people to maintain a balanced diet, keep a healthy weight, and quit smoking in order to lower their risk of bowel cancer.
This disease affects over 44,000 individuals each year in the UK, with data showing that one in 20 women and one in 17 men will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime. Over half of these cases are preventable, with 13% caused by eating processed meat and 11 per cent due to overweight and obesity.
The latest research, published in Nature Communications, examined 97 dietary factors and their impact on bowel cancer risk among 542,778 women participating in the Million Women Study. During a follow-up period of almost 17 years, 12,251 women developed bowel cancer.
Of all the dietary factors studied, calcium and alcohol had the most significant effect on changing bowel cancer risk. The researchers discovered that an additional 300mg of calcium per day – equivalent to a large 240ml glass of milk or a couple of pots of yoghurt – resulted in a 17 per cent decrease in the risk of bowel cancer.
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A recent study has revealed that adding calcium to your diet could slash the risk of bowel cancer, regardless of whether it comes from dairy or non-dairy sources. The research, which didn’t delve into the effects of calcium supplements, highlighted that calcium found in milk (even when added to tea and coffee), yoghurt, and vegetables contributes to this protective effect.
However, the role of cheese and ice-cream remains unclear, possibly due to low consumption levels among participants. Additionally, the study pointed out that consuming 20g of alcohol daily can increase bowel cancer risk by 15 per cent, while an extra 30g of processed and red meat each day is linked to an 8 per cent higher risk.
Cancer Research UK’s senior health information manager, Sophia Lowes, commented on the findings: “Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting people in the UK, which is why it’s so vital that we know how to prevent it.”
She also advised that “Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, alongside keeping a healthy weight and stopping smoking, is one of the best ways to lower your risk of bowel cancer.”
The study’s findings are a game-changer for anyone looking to tweak their diet for the better, with recommendations including “This includes cutting down on alcohol and red and processed meat, and eating lots of fruit, vegetables and wholegrains.”
Dairy enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that “Dairy products like milk can also be part of a diet which reduces bowel cancer risk.”
The urgency for more research is clear, as it’s stated: “We look forward to further research, including into the effects of specific ingredients like calcium, to ensure fewer people are impacted by this devastating disease.”
Dr Keren Papier, the lead researcher, emphasised the significance of the study, saying: “This is the most comprehensive single study ever conducted into the relationship between diet and bowel cancer, and it highlights the protective role of calcium in the development of this disease.”
The team behind the study believes calcium’s cancer-fighting properties may stem from its ability to bind with certain substances in the gut, thereby reducing their cancer-promoting effects. They added, “Experimental work in rats has also shown that having higher levels of dietary calcium could help protect the structure of the bowel.”
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In terms of alcohol consumption, it’s noted that in the UK, one unit of alcohol is defined as 8g of alcohol. Dr Lisa Wilde, director of research and external affairs at Bowel Cancer UK, brought the issue closer to home, stating: “Every 12 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with bowel cancer, making it the fourth most common cancer in the country.”
She also highlighted a positive takeaway from the research: “This study shows that drinking dairy milk can help reduce your bowel cancer risk.”
Dr Helen Croker, an assistant director of research and policy at the World Cancer Research Fund, noted: “However, it is the calcium in milk that is important. If you don’t drink dairy milk there are other ways you can get calcium, for example from broccoli or tofu, and still reduce your bowel cancer risk.”
In addition to incorporating calcium into your diet, there are various lifestyle changes individuals can implement to prevent this disease such as consuming enough fibre through whole grains and pulses, while choosing healthier meats, exercising regularly, and dropping unhealthy habits like excessive drinking.
According to Dr Croker: “Making lifestyle changes can be a challenge, but we believe it’s worth the effort.”
“This new research reinforces how important diet is when considering cancer risk, especially given low public awareness surrounding factors such as alcohol consumption.”
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