Re: Dairy and calcium consumption and inverse association with colong cancer

x-no-archive: yes

Jim Chinnis wrote:

Unfortunately, some of us have prostates:

Br J Nutr. 2006 Mar;95(3):539-45.

Dairy products, calcium and phosphorus intake, and the risk of prostate
cancer: results of the French prospective SU.VI.MAX (Supplementation en
Vitamines et Mineraux Antioxydants) study.

Kesse E, Bertrais S, Astorg P, Jaouen A, Arnault N, Galan P, Hercberg S.

Inserm U557 (UMR Inserm/Inra/Cnam), ISTNA-CNAM, 5 rue Vertbois, F-75003
Paris, France.

Although dairy products have been found to be associated with an elevated
risk of prostate cancer, studies investigating the potential effect of Ca
are limited, and findings are inconsistent. The objective of the present
study was to test the relationship between the risk of prostate cancer and
consumption of dairy products and Ca. The analysis included 2776 men from
the French SU.VI.MAX (Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux Antioxydants)
prospective study, among whom sixty-nine developed prostate cancer during
the follow-up period (median: 7.7 years). Food consumption was assessed at
inclusion from repeated 24 h records and nutrient intake was calculated
using a food composition table. A higher risk of prostate cancer was
observed among subjects with higher dairy product (relative risk (RR; 95 %
CI), 4th quartile v. 1st: 1.35 (1.02, 1.78), P=0.04) and Ca intake (RR (95 %
CI), 4th quartile v. 1st: 2.43 (1.05, 5.62), P=0.04). Nevertheless, we
identified a harmful effect of yoghurt consumption upon the risk of prostate
cancer (RR (95 % CI), increment 125 g/d: 1.61 (1.07, 2.43), P=0.02)
independently of the Ca content. Our data support the hypothesis that dairy
products have a harmful effect with respect to the risk of prostate cancer,
largely related to Ca content. The higher risk of prostate cancer with
linear increasing yoghurt consumption seems to be independent of Ca and may
be related to some other component.

Isn't this correlation, not causation? Hyperinsulinemia is closely associated with both types of cancer, and dairy is usually a large part of the diet that reduces it.

Susan
.

Relevant Pages