Making statements about the study published by Oxford University and Cancer Research UK, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology faculty member Prof. Dr. Uğur Coşkun said, “In the study, firstly, genetic data from more than 542 thousand women were analyzed to examine the relationship between milk consumption and bowel cancer risk and focused on lactase enzyme-related variants, which are the ability to digest lactose in adulthood.
Data on detailed dietary habits, including daily milk intake, were also collected from the participants. “By combining these two data sets, researchers were able to better estimate the causal effect of dairy consumption on bowel cancer risk.”
Coşkun continued his statement as follows:
“The results of the study revealed that participants who consumed 244 grams of additional milk per day had a 17 percent lower risk of developing bowel cancer. Additionally, the researchers found that the protective effect of dairy consumption was independent of other dietary factors and lifestyle habits.
It is thought that one reason for the benefits of milk in reducing the risk of bowel cancer is that milk replaces unhealthy food choices and is a rich source of calcium. Calcium may help protect against cancer by binding to potentially harmful substances in the gut and promoting the death of abnormal cells.
Additionally, the lactose in milk may support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria that produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. Finally, milk contains conjugated linoleic acid, a fatty acid found in meat and dairy products.
THERE IS A DECREASE IN PATIENT AGES
The incidence of colorectal cancer, which ranks third among the most common cancer types in the world, is increasing day by day. Moreover, we see decreases in the average age of patients. In other words, bowel cancer is now seen at young ages.