The main products for BREAKFAST can increase the risk of three deadly cancers, a large study found.
There are fears that dairy products, which include milk, yogurt and cheese, are drivers of the disease.
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An ingredient that is common at breakfast is associated with an increased risk of cancer in older ChineseCredit: Getty – Contributor
Researchers, including from Oxford University, have studied half a million people in China.
One in five participants said they ate dairy products at least once a week, while 70% said they had never eaten them, according to questionnaires.
Over a period of 11 years, 30,000 of the recruits aged 30 to 79 developed cancer.
Regular people who eat dairy products have a significantly higher risk of liver and breast cancer – among the most common cancers in China and around the world.
For each dose of 50 g per day, the risk increases by 12 and 17 percent, respectively, according to findings published in BMC Medicine.
Fifty grams a day is approximately two tablespoons of yogurt or two slices of cheese.
Those who eat dairy products also appear to have a higher chance of lymphoma, but not to a significant degree.
No link has been found for bowel, prostate or other cancers studied.
The study looked at a number of other factors that can affect cancer risk, including age, gender, family medical history and weight.
Dr Maria Kakkura, a food epidemiologist at Oxford Population Health and the lead author of the study, said: “This was the first large study examining the link between dairy products and the risk of cancer in the Chinese population.
“Further research is needed to confirm these current findings, to establish whether these associations are causal and to examine the potential underlying mechanisms.
Researchers have suggested that eating a lot of dairy products may increase levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), which promotes cell growth.
It has previously been shown to be involved in the development of several cancers, the Oxford team said.
Female sex hormones in cow’s milk may be behind the increased risk of breast cancer, while saturated and trans fatty acids may be detrimental to the liver.
Clarity is needed
Commenting on the findings, registered nutritionist Dr. Dwayne Meller of the University of Aston said: “Although the document suggests a 12% increased relative risk of breast cancer in women, this is not equal to 12 more cases per 100 individuals.
“It would be more like 1 or 2 cases per thousand people.
“In my opinion, this study alone does not provide convincing evidence that reducing dairy intake would reduce the risk of cancer.”
It is unclear whether the results are applicable to the western population.
The Chinese are much less likely to fill their refrigerators with cheese and milk.
The average person in China eats 38 grams of dairy products a day compared to a Briton who usually weighs 300 grams.
Most adult Chinese are unable to properly metabolize dairy products due to a lack of lactase, a key enzyme for breaking down milk sugar lactose.
Some studies in Western populations suggest that the diary is associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer.
But there is good evidence that it reduces the chances of bowel cancer, says Cancer Research UK.
It added: “There is no good, consistent evidence that milk and dairy products can cause breast cancer.
“We need more high-quality research to find out if there is a connection.”
Associate Professor Huaidong Du, a senior researcher at Oxford Population Health and one of the senior co-authors of the study, said it was “important to know that dairy products are a source of protein, vitamins and minerals.”
“It would not be wise to reduce the consumption of dairy products based solely on the results of this study or without ensuring adequate intake of protein, vitamins and minerals from other sources,” she said.
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