Animal foods, protein, calcium and prostate cancer risk: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition
2008

Animal Foods and Prostate Cancer Risk

Sample size: 142520 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Allen N E, Key T J, Appleby P N, Travis R C, Roddam A W, Tjønneland A, Johnsen N F, Overvad K, Linseisen J, Rohrmann S, Boeing H, Pischon T, Bueno-de-Mesquita H B, Kiemeney L, Tagliabue G, Palli D, Vineis P, Tumino R, Trichopoulou A, Kassapa C, Trichopoulos D, Ardanaz E, Larrañaga N, Tormo M-J, González C A, Quirós J R, Sánchez M-J, Bingham S, Khaw K-T, Manjer J, Berglund G, Stattin P, Hallmans G, Slimani N, Ferrari P, Rinaldi S, Riboli E

Primary Institution: Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford

Hypothesis

Does high intake of animal protein increase the risk of prostate cancer?

Conclusion

A high intake of dairy protein and calcium is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Supporting Evidence

  • A high intake of dairy protein was associated with a 22% increased risk of prostate cancer.
  • Calcium from dairy products was positively associated with prostate cancer risk.
  • 2727 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed during the study.
  • Follow-up lasted an average of 8.7 years.

Takeaway

Eating a lot of dairy products might make you more likely to get prostate cancer.

Methodology

The study used Cox regression to analyze dietary intake and prostate cancer risk among men in the EPIC cohort.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from self-reported dietary data and participant selection.

Limitations

Dietary intake was estimated using questionnaires, which can lead to measurement errors.

Participant Demographics

Participants were mostly white European men with a median age of 52 at recruitment.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.02

Confidence Interval

1.07–1.41

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6604331

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