Calcium’s Role in Reducing Colorectal Cancer Risk for Women
A recent research study indicates that adequate calcium intake may play a significant role in decreasing the likelihood of women developing colorectal cancer.
Key Findings from the Study
The U.K.-based investigation, published in the academic journal Nature, suggests that women can reduce their risk of colorectal cancer by 17% with a daily intake of 300 mg of calcium. This amount is roughly equivalent to what is found in a single glass of milk.
The study, conducted by researchers from Oxford University and Cancer Research UK, emphasizes that “dairy products—including overall dairy consumption, milk, cheese, and dietary calcium—likely contribute to lowering the risk of colorectal cancer.”
Lead investigator Dr. Keren Papier expressed optimism regarding these findings when speaking with the BBC. “This research underlines dairy’s potential protective effects against bowel cancer risks due to its high calcium content,” she stated.
!Image: Woman pouring a glass of milk
Longitudinal Study Insights
Researchers based their conclusions on an extensive examination tracking the dietary habits and health data of over 542,000 women over a span exceeding 16 years.
However, experts cautioned against simplistic interpretations; merely consuming copious amounts of ice cream or cheese isn’t advisable for lowering cancer risk. The researchers observed that among various dairy-related foods analyzed, all exhibited an inverse relationship with colorectal cancer risk—except for cheese and ice cream.
They noted that ”the likely protective effect attributed to calcium stems from its ability to bind bile acids and free fatty acids within the colon,” thereby potentially reducing their carcinogenic risks associated with tumor development.
“We conclude that incorporating dairy products into one’s diet may bolster defense against colorectal cancer,” the authors stated emphatically. “This conclusion appears primarily linked to calcium content.”
!Image: Woman drinking a glass of milk
Dietary Considerations
Additionally, it was revealed through this study that increased consumption of red and processed meats heightened colonic health risks by approximately 8%, though processed meats showed stronger associations compared to unprocessed options. Moreover, alcohol consumption correlated with an increase in risk by about 15%.
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While this research predominantly focused on traditional cow’s milk consumption for attaining necessary calcium levels, Dr. Lisa Wilde from Bowel Cancer UK mentioned alternative sources available for non-dairy individuals during her interview with BBC.”For those who don’t consume dairy products,” she explained.”Calcium can still be sourced effectively through vegetables such as broccoli or plant-based options like tofu without compromising one’s efforts toward reducing bowel cancer risks.”