Skim Milk Linked to Prostate Cancer

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (February 19, 2008) – Drinking skim milk may increase a man's risk for prostate cancer, according to the results of two studies recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Dietary calcium and vitamin D have long been believed to increase the risk for prostate cancer, says Jyoti Gopal, M.D., family medicine physician with Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. The two recent studies were designed to officially establish that link. While neither study confirmed a solid relationship between prostate cancer and calcium or vitamin D consumption, the studies did find a possible link between skim milk and prostate cancer. More research needs to be done to determine why there may be a connection between prostate cancer and nonfat milk.

Gopal says she's not ready to tell males to stop drinking skim milk until more research has been completed.

People should be aware of risks associated with drinking whole milk, which is high in saturated fat, says Donna Boden, clinical dietitian with the hospital. Saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels, specifically LDL or bad cholesterol levels. High cholesterol can lead to coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke.

"The bottom line is skim milk contains no saturated fat and it is lowest in cholesterol," she says. "But if you want to stay away from skim milk, one or two percent milks are the best substitutes."

Of the recent studies, one was performed by researchers at the University of Hawaii, and analyzed the food intake and various health factors of 82,483 ethnically diverse men ranging in age from 45 to 75. During a follow-up period of eight years, 4,404 of those men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. The study determined there was an increase in non-aggressive tumors in the men who drank skim milk. No link to overall dietary calcium consumption and prostate cancer was found.

The second study, completed by scientists at theNational Cancer Institute at National Institutes of Health, looked at the health and diets of 293,888 men during a six-year period. This study linked skim milk with advanced prostate cancer. "I am not convinced by these studies and I would like to see more research results," Gopal says.

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