Can dairy decrease colon cancer risk

The Journal of the American Medical Association recently reported that consuming ordinary dairy products can significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. We all know that hereditary factors contribute to the risk of cancers of many types, but environmental factors, including diet, also play a very important role.

Now we are beginning to see the evidence that the cheese, milk and yogurt that you eat every day may not only strengthen your bones, but also may reduce your risk of this cancer. Researchers at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center studied the effects of increasing intake of dairy products in 70 subjects at risk for developing colon cancer because of medical history of a colon polyp. The researchers randomly assigned the subjects into one of two groups – a control group placed on a conventional diet and an experimental group placed on a diet with enhanced consumption of low-fat dairy products, with a total intake of 1,500 mg of calcium daily. Each subject was evaluated over a one-year period and monitored for changes in the mucosal lining of the colon and abnormalities associated with a risk of colon cancer. Considerable improvements were recorded in the indicators of risk of colon cancer for subjects consuming increased amounts of low-fat dairy products for six months and for one year.

The research shows that calcium is most likely a component in the beneficial effects of consuming increased amounts of low-fat dairy products. The study’s investigators think that other components, such as vitamin D, conjugated lineolic acid (CLA), sphingomeylin and butyratecan lower risk.

Further studies are under way to determine if these other components truly have beneficial effects. In another investigation, reported in the September 5, 2002, issue of The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers studied a group of high-risk patients and concluded that the risk of cancer can be reduced by up to 60 percent by drinking low-fat milk regularly. A few quick and easy ways to add dairy products to your diet include sprinkling grated cheese on baked potatoes, using yogurt as a vegetable dip, eating yogurt for an afternoon snack, adding a slice of low-fat mozzarella to sandwiches, grating low-fat cheese in salads and soups and using low-fat milk in soups, gravy and sauces.

Remember that you also need to follow the advice of the experts, who recommend a low-fat, high-fiber diet and regular check-ups. Both men and women should be screened for colorectal cancer at age 50 or over, and younger if they are at increased risk for the disease.