Drinking a daily glass of milk could reduce the risk of bowel cancer by nearly a fifth, groundbreaking new research from the University of Oxford has revealed.
The study, published in Nature Communications, found that consuming 300mg of calcium – the amount contained in one glass of milk – was linked to a 17 per cent lower risk of developing the disease.
The findings showed that both dairy and non-dairy foods rich in calcium offered protection against bowel cancer, which affects 44,000 people annually in the UK.
In one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind, researchers from Oxford Population Health analysed dietary information from more than 542,000 women over an average of 16 years.
Drinking a daily glass of milk could reduce the risk of bowel cancer by nearly a fifth
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The investigation examined the relationship between 97 different products and nutrients and their connection to bowel cancer risk.
Calcium was found to have protective effects whether it came from dairy products like milk and yoghurt, or from non-dairy sources.
The study considered calcium intake from various sources, including milk in tea and coffee, though the impact of cheese and ice cream remained unclear.
Dr Keren Papier, lead researcher and senior nutritional epidemiologist at Oxford Population Health, highlighted the significance of the findings.
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“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,” she said.
She also called for additional research to understand how increasing calcium intake might affect different populations.
The study did not examine the impact of calcium supplements, focusing instead on dietary sources of the nutrient.
The research also revealed concerning links between certain dietary habits and increased bowel cancer risk.
Consuming an additional 20g of alcohol daily – equivalent to a large glass of wine – was associated with a 15 per cent higher risk of developing the disease.
Red and processed meat consumption also raised concerns, with each additional 30g per day linked to an 8 per cent increase in risk.
Calcium was found to have protective effects whether it came from dairy products like milk and yoghurt, or from non-dairy sources
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Sophia Lowes from Cancer Research UK said: “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 findings come amid growing concerns about bowel cancer rates in England, particularly among younger adults.
A study published in The Lancet Oncology revealed that England has seen one of the steepest rises in bowel cancer cases in Europe among people aged 25 to 49.
Cases increased by an average of 3.6 per cent annually in the decade to 2017, making it the fourth highest rise globally after Chile, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.
Poor diet has been suggested as a potential factor behind this concerning trend in young adults.