Milk consumption and cancer incidence: a Norwegian prospective study
1990

Milk Consumption and Cancer Incidence in Norway

Sample size: 15914 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): G. Ursin, E. Bjelke, I. Heuch, S.E. Vollset

Primary Institution: Centre for Epidemiologic Research, University of Bergen

Hypothesis

What is the relationship between milk intake and cancer incidence?

Conclusion

The study found no overall association between total cancer incidence and milk consumption, but identified a strong positive association with cancers of the lymphatic organs.

Supporting Evidence

  • 1,422 individuals were diagnosed with cancer during the follow-up.
  • An odds ratio of 3.4 was found for cancers of the lymphatic organs with high milk consumption.
  • Total cancer incidence showed no association with milk consumption.

Takeaway

Drinking milk doesn't seem to cause cancer overall, but it might be linked to certain types of cancer, like lymphatic cancers.

Methodology

The study followed 15,914 individuals over 11 years, analyzing their milk consumption and cancer diagnoses.

Potential Biases

Potential biases from self-reported data and the exclusion of older individuals may affect results.

Limitations

The study had a small number of cases for certain cancer sites and relied on self-reported dietary data.

Participant Demographics

The cohort included 2,679 women and 13,235 men, with varying milk consumption patterns based on age and region.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.01

Confidence Interval

1.4-8.2

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

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