Milk link to ovarian cancer risk

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Milk link to ovarian cancer risk

 

Last Updated: Monday, 29 November, 2004, 10:55 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4051331.stm

 

Consuming large amounts of milk may increase the risk of developing ovarian

cancer, research suggests.

 

A study of more than 60,000 women found drinking more than two glasses of

milk a day significantly upped the risk of the most serious form of the

disease.

 

Dairy products have previously been linked to cancers, including those of

the breast and prostate.

 

The research, by Sweden's Karolinska Institute, is published in the

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

 

The researchers followed 61,084 women aged 38 to 76 for around 13 years.

 

During this time a total of 266 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer,

of whom 125 had serous ovarian cancer.

 

The researchers found women who consumed more than four servings of dairy

products a day had twice the risk of serous ovarian cancer than women who

had fewer than two.

 

They found that milk had the strongest link with ovarian cancer - those

women who drank two or more glasses a day were at double the risk of those

who did not consume it at all, or only in small amounts.

 

The reason why milk may increase the risk of ovarian cancer is unclear, but

one theory is that lactose, a type of sugar found in milk, may

overstimulate production of hormones which encourage tumour growth.

 

Moderator's Note: The reasons may be unclear to the author, however those of us

who are in the know realize that the IGF-I biotech component (growth hormone) is

the main (if not the sole) reason that milk is such a large contributing factor

in many types of hormonal Cancers!

 

Diet element unclear

 

Dr Kate Law, of Cancer Research UK, said it was not yet clear how

nutrients, or the amount and distribution of body fat affected the risk of

developing cancer.

 

She said: " Previous research has also suggested that a diet rich in whole

milk, yogurt and cheese may put women at higher risk of ovarian cancer.

 

Dr Law a major study, involving 500,000 people, was currently underway to

try to assess the impact on diet on cancer.

 

" Until more is known about the specific components of diet that influence

cancer risk, the best advice is to emphasize a balanced diet which includes

plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. "

 

Around 6,700 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year.