Whole Milk and Higher Chances of Prostate Cancer Recurrence

The researchers looked at data from 1,334 men who were diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer. Patients submitted questionnaires about the high-fat dairy they consumed on a weekly basis. The researchers then followed the patients for several years to determine which patients had prostate cancer recurrence after having a radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy.

Of the men in the study, 137 had prostate cancer recurrence. The researchers saw an association between whole milk and prostate cancer recurrence. Specifically, men who consumed four or more servings of whole milk per week had a 73% increased risk of prostate cancer recurrence. Additionally, men who were overweight and obese and who had more than four servings per week of whole milk had a 3-fold higher risk of prostate cancer recurrence.

Low-fat milk and other dairy foods, including yogurt, ice cream, or cottage cheese, were not associated with prostate cancer recurrence in the study.