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Milk, Dairy Products and Cancer Risk (Italy)

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Abstract

Background

Inconclusive information is available on the potential role of milk and dairy products on the risk of cancer at several sites.

Methods

We analyzed data from a large and integrated network of hospital-based case–control studies in Italy on cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx (598 cases, 1491 controls), oesophagus (304 cases, 743 controls), colorectum (1953 cases, 4154 controls), larynx (460 cases, 1088 controls), breast (2569 cases, 2588 controls), ovary (1031 cases, 2411 controls) and prostate (1294 cases, 1451 controls).

Results

Multivariate odds ratio (OR) for the highest consumption level of any type of milk was 0.94 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.61–1.33) for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, 1.20 (95% CI: 0.76–1.90) for oesophageal, 0.77 (95% CI: 0.62–0.96) for colon, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.60–1.05) for rectal, 0.83 (95% CI: 0.56–1.21) for laryngeal, 0.91 (95% CI: 0.76–1.10) for breast, 0.89 (95% CI: 0.68–1.15) for ovarian and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.84–1.37) for prostate cancer. A significant trend in risk was found for colon cancer only. Inverse associations were observed between consumption of skim milk and cancers of colon (OR=0.84; 95% CI: 0.73–0.97), rectum (OR=0.76; 95% CI: 0.64–0.91), breast (OR=0.87; 95% CI: 0.77–0.98) and ovary (OR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.66–0.91). Conversely, whole milk consumption was directly associated with cancer of the rectum (OR=1.22; 95% CI: 1.03–1.44) and ovary (OR=1.25; 95% CI: 1.07–1.46). High consumption of cheese was inversely related to colon cancer risk (OR=0.80; 95% CI: 0.67–0.95).

Conclusions

There was a modest direct association between milk and dairy products and prostate cancer, and a moderate inverse one for colorectal cancer. However, our findings indicate that milk and dairy products are not strong risk indicators for any of the cancers considered.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support: This work was conducted with the contribution of the Italian Association for Cancer Research, the Italian League Against Cancer and the Italian Ministry of Education (COFIN 2003)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Via Eritrea 62, 20157, Milan, Italy

    Silvano Gallus, Francesca Bravi, Eva Negri & Carlo La Vecchia

  2. Unità di Epidemiologia, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Via Pedemontana Occ.le, 33081, Aviano (Pordenone), Italy

    Renato Talamini

  3. Unità di Epidemiologia, Istituto Tumori “Fondazione Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola, 80100, Naples, Italy

    Maurizio Montella

  4. Servizio Integrato di Epidemiologia e Sistemi Informativi, Istituto Regina Elena, Via Chianesi, 53, 00144, Rome, Italy

    Valerio Ramazzotti

  5. International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, F-69372, cédex 08, Lyon, France

    Silvia Franceschi

  6. Gastroenterology and Nutrient Unit, National Institute for Cancer Research, 16100, Genova, Italy

    Attilio Giacosa

  7. Istituto di Statistica Medica e Biometria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Carlo La Vecchia

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  1. Silvano Gallus
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Correspondence to Silvano Gallus.

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Gallus, S., Bravi, F., Talamini, R. et al. Milk, Dairy Products and Cancer Risk (Italy). Cancer Causes Control 17, 429–437 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-0423-2

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