Bowel cancer risk could be reduced with an extra glass of milk

Added calcium

The study found that most women participating were consuming above the recommended level of calcium (over 700mg). But for some, this might be from having added calcium supplementation in their food. You can find added calcium in products like bread or certain vegan products (e.g. plant milks). But more research is needed into whether calcium supplements and calcium-fortified foods have the same effect on reducing bowel cancer risk. 

“We couldn’t look at the association between taking calcium supplements and bowel cancer risk in this study,” Papier explained. “Given the widespread use of calcium supplements, future studies should investigate the role of calcium supplements in the prevention of bowel cancer in diverse populations.” 

Other food links to bowel cancer

There are around 44,100 cases of bowel cancer every year in the UK, making it the 4th most common cancer. But more than 5 in 10 cases of bowel cancer are preventable. 

Diet and cancer can be tricky to map, but there are some clear links between certain dietary products and cancer risk. Papier’s study also confirms the clear link between alcohol consumption and higher bowel cancer risk. Drinking an additional 20g of alcohol a day, equivalent to a large glass of wine, was found to increase bowel cancer risk by 15%. 

“Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting people in the UK, which is why it’s so vital that we know how to prevent it,” said Sophia Lowes, our senior health information manager. 

“Alongside keeping a healthy weight and stopping smoking, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is one of the best ways to lower your risk of bowel cancer. This includes cutting down on alcohol and red and processed meat, and eating lots of fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains. Dairy products like milk can also be part of a diet which reduces bowel cancer risk.” 

Next steps

It’s still too early to say whether increasing calcium levels is recommended for everyone. Papier and her team want to look further into calcium’s role in bowel cancer prevention in different populations with diverse diets, to understand how it can be best utilised to help prevent the disease.