Calcium May Protect Against Cancer
You might think that milk is most important for children and teens, but a recent study by the National Institutes of Health and the American Association of Retired Persons shows milk drinking is beneficial for older adults too!
The study involved more than 492,000 individuals ages 50 to 71, and included an average of 7 years of follow up. During this period, a total of 36,965 men were diagnosed with cancer and 16,605 women were diagnosed with cancer. There were more than 10 different types of cancer identified with the most common being prostate, breast, lung and colorectal.
The results of the study suggest that calcium consumption is associated with a lower risk of total cancer and cancers of the digestive system, especially colorectal cancer. In the study women who consumed the most calcium got an average of 1,881 milligrams a day, and the men who consumed the most calcium got an average of 1,530 milligrams a day. The recommended daily amount of calcium for older adults is 1,200 milligrams which is equal to four 8 oz. servings of milk a day. Women who got the most calcium from food were 28% less likely to get colon cancer, and men who got the most calcium lowered their risk to 16%.
To read the details go the links below:
Archives of Internal Medicine Vol. 169 No. 4, February 23, 2009
Dairy Food, Calcium, and Risk of Cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/169/4/391?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=cancer+calcium&searchid=1&
FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
The Wall Street Journal February 24, 2009 D6
Calcium May Protect Against Cancer
online.wsj.com/article/SB123541746988050659.html - 114k