Too much dietary calcium can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer, according to an 11-year study recently completed by researchers from Harvard University Medical School.

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Dietary and lifestyle data from 20,855 male physicians was used in the study, and 1,012 men developed prostate cancer. Researchers focused on dairy intake as a possible explanation for the figures and created a daily dairy score for each participant, marked in relation to calcium intake through five common dairy foods; whole milk, skim milk, ice cream, cold breakfast cereal and cheese.


The study found a correlation between the incidence of prostate cancer and dairy intake, with participants facing a 34% greater risk of developing the disease if they were among the top 20% dairy consumers.


The researchers concluded: “These findings may serve to interject a note of caution into the current enthusiastic promotion of a higher intake of calcium in the US.”


Dr. June Chanl, lead author of the report, told HealthWorld however: “This is a ‘head’s up’ rather than the sounding of an alarm.”

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