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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #184863
Title: IS GREATER INTAKE OF DAIRY AND CALCIUM A RISK FACTOR OF PROSTATE CANCER? A META-ANALYSIS OF PROSPECTIVE STUDIES

Author
item GAO, XIANG - TUFTS/HNRCA
item LAVALLEY, MICHAEL - BOSTON UNIV SCHL PUB HLTH
item TUCKER, KATHERINE - TUFTS/HNRCA

Submitted to: Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2005
Publication Date: 12/7/2005
Citation: Gao, X., Lavalley, M.P., Tucker, K.L. 2005. Is Greater Intake of Dairy and Calcium a Risk Factor of Prostate Cancer? A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 97(23):1768-1777.

Interpretive Summary: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. High intakes of calcium and dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer. However the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans now recommend that all Americans increase their dairy intake. The current study is to examine the association between intake of calcium and dairy and risk of prostate cancer by performing a meta-analysis of prospective studies. We found that men in the highest intake categories of dairy or calcium were 11% and 39%, respectively, more likely to develop prostate cancer relative to those in the lowest intake categories. Our results support evidence from single studies suggesting that high intake of dairy and calcium intake may be associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. More research is needed to carefully examine both the potential benefits and risks of changing dietary recommendations.

Technical Abstract: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. High intakes of calcium and dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer. However, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans now recommends that all Americans increase their dairy intake. The current study is to examine the association between intake of calcium and dairy and risk of prostate cancer. Prospective studies published in English-language journals were retrieved by searching the MEDLINE from 1966 through May 2005, using "dairy" or "milk" or "calcium", and "prostate cancer" or "prostatic neoplasm" as search terms. We included ten prospective studies in which total, advanced, or fatal prostate cancer were end points and where associations were reported in the form of relative risk (RR), or odds ratio (OR) by category of dairy or calcium intake. Data extraction was performed using standardized data forms. We used random-effect models to pool study results. Men in the highest intake categories of dairy or calcium were 11% (P=0.047) or 39% (P=0.018), respectively, more likely to develop prostate cancer relative to those in the lowest intake categories. The pooled RRs for advanced prostate cancer are 1.33 and 1.46 for highest dairy (P=0.055) and calcium (P>0.2) intake, respectively. Dose-response analyses suggested that intakes of dairy or calcium were positively associated with risk of prostate cancer (P<0.05 for both without intercept term and P>0.1 with intercept term). Higher intake of dairy and calcium may be associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. More research is needed to carefully examine both the potential benefits and risks of changing dietary recommendations.