Ovarian cancer linked to dairy food consumption

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new analysis suggests that the risk of ovarian cancer may be increased by high consumption of diary foods and lactose.
Since 1989, some studies have suggested that lactose, the sugar found in milk, and dairy foods could be linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. In a new analysis, researchers at the Karolinska Institute, in Sweden, have looked at 21 studies and found that some do, indeed, demonstrate a connection.

They find that milk and lactose increase the risk, according to some studies. Yoghurt causes a non-significant increase in risk of ovarian cancer while cheese does not increase the risk. However, the link was not shown by all studies. This difference may be related to the way the studies are designed. The connection between diary foods and ovarian cancer was only found in certain subtypes of the disease. Clearly future studies should look at how diet, genetics and the type of cancer are inter-related, so that women have reliable information on any risk associated with dairy foods.

Source
International Journal of Cancer online 5th August 2005

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