Feedback from Our Readers
In the July/August 2002 issue of Geriatrics & Aging (Volume 5, Number 6), the article "Dietary Measures to Prevent Prostate Cancer" (pages 18-20) suggested that dairy foods are strongly linked to prostate cancer, and that the higher the intake of dairy foods, the higher the risk of cancer. Mr. Thomas Anderson, PhD from Summerland, B.C., wrote G&A to point out that only defatted dairy products are known to have this effect (e.g., skim milk and fat-free yogurt), whereas unaltered dairy foods do not, and in fact appear to actually protect against prostate, breast and several other types of cancer. References provided by Mr. Anderson include:
- Ip C, Scimeca JA, Thompson HJ. Conjugated linoleic acid: powerful anticarcinogen from animal fat sources. Cancer 1994;74:1050-4.
- Jonnalagadda SS, Mustad VA, Yu S, et al. Effects of individual fatty acids on chronic diseases. Nutrition Today 1996;31:90-106.
- Knekt P, Jarvinen R, Seppanen R, et al. Intake of dairy products and the risk of breast cancer. British Journal of Cancer 1996;73:687-91.
- Veierod MB, Leake P, Thelle DS. Dietary fat intake and risk of prostate cancer: a prospective study of 25,708 Norwegian men. Int J Cancer 1997;73:634-8.
- Schuuman AG, Van den Brandt PA, Dorrant E, et al. Animal products, calcium and protein and prostate cancer in the Netherlands Cohort Study. Br J Cancer 1999;80:1107-13.
We thank Mr. Anderson for his feedback and encourage our readers to send their comments.
Geriatrics & Aging, 20 Eglinton Ave. West, Suite 1109, Toronto, ON M4R 1K8 Fax: 416-480-2740 or Email: info@geriatricsandaging.ca.
