Calcium In One Glass Of Milk Daily Could Prevent Bowel Cancer

A new study by the Oxford University and Cancer Research UK, titled Diet-wide analyses for risk of colorectal cancer: prospective study of 12,251 incident cases among 542,778 women in the UK in journal Nature found that people with more calcium in their diet, which is equivalent to a glass of milk a day may have a reduced risk of bowel cancer.

The research concluded the answers by analyzing diets of more than half a million women over 16 years, and found that dark leafy greens, bread, and non dairy-milks containing calcium also had a protective effect. They also found more evidence that consuming too much alcohol and processes meat has the opposite effect and increases the risk of disease.

Is it effective?

A recent review suggests that dairy products "probably: reduce the risk of colorectal (bowel) cancer.

The study, conducted by researchers at Oxford University and Cancer Research UK, attributes this protective effect to calcium, whether obtained from dairy or non-dairy sources. According to the findings, adding an extra 300mg of calcium to your daily diet—equivalent to a large glass of milk—can lower the risk of bowel cancer by 17%.

"This highlights the potential protective role of dairy, largely due to calcium, in reducing bowel cancer risk," explained lead researcher Dr. Keren Papier from Oxford.

Other foods such as breakfast cereals, fruits, whole grains, carbohydrates, fibre, and vitamin C were also found to slightly reduce the risk of bowel cancer. However, it's well-established that consuming excessive amounts of processed and red meat, as well as alcohol, increases the risk.

The study reinforces these links:

Drinking an additional large glass of wine daily (approximately 20g of alcohol) raises your risk by 15%.

Eating an extra ounce of processed or red meat, like a slice of ham, increases the risk by 8%.

It’s worth noting that these percentages can vary for individuals, as the risk of bowel cancer depends on lifestyle, diet, habits, and genetics.

Why Calcium Matters and Where to Find It

Calcium is essential for strong bones and healthy teeth, and emerging evidence suggests it also plays a role in protecting against certain cancers. It may lower the risk of bowel cancer by binding to bile acids and free fatty acids in the colon, reducing their potentially harmful effects.

Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese are major sources of calcium, especially in the UK diet. However, non-dairy options include soya and rice drinks, white bread, nuts, seeds, dried figs, kale, canned sardines, and lactose-free milk. Incorporating a variety of these foods can help ensure adequate calcium intake.

Bowel Cancer, is it common?

In UK alone, every year, about 44,000 cases of bowel cancer is reported, which makes it the fourth most common cancer. Although most cases are seen in older people, rates of younger adults under 50 are also rising.

Poor diet and obesity is also to be blamed for this.

Symptoms:

• Change in your bowel habits
• Bleeding while passing bowel
• Losing weight when you are not trying to
• Unexplained tiredness and breathelessness