While this study was observational and does not show a direct cause between milk and prostate cancer, other studies have shown there may be a link.

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See also

Colostrum Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer

Eggs may give you Prostate Cancer

Calcium Increases Prostate Cancer Risk in African American Men

Drinking Milk May Cause Prostate Cancer

Calcium supplements

101 Ways to Love Your Prostate

46 Things to Avoid for Prostate Health

In a new review of the literature, J. Kellogg Parsons, MD, MHS, associate professor of surgery at the University of California, San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, outlined the modifiable lifestyle factors that contribute to the development of BPH and LUTS.  These two conditions are often studied together because BPH is the main cause of LUTS.

In the review, Parsons named three factors associated with an increased risk of both BPH and LUTS: obesity, diabetes, and consumption of meat and fat. He noted that most studies have found a relationship between obesity and an increased risk of both BPH and LUTS, including a Norwegian study of 21,700 men (Seim 2005) and the seven-year prospective analysis of 5,700 men who participated in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. (Kristal 2007)

Parsons stated that “disruptions in glucose homeostasis have been strongly and robustly associated with a higher likelihood of prostate enlargement, BPH, and LUTS” in a variety of studies involving tens of thousands of men. Results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial also show that meat and fat consumption are associated with an increased risk of BPH and LUTS. (Kristal 2008)

On the positive side, lifestyle factors found to help reduce the risk of BPH and LUTS include exercise, vegetable intake, and alcohol consumption. Regarding exercise, Parsons noted a 2008 study in which a meta-analysis of 11 studies involving 43,083 men found that moderate to vigorous exercise was associated with up to a 25 percent reduced risk of both BPH and LUTS. (Parsons 2008)

Vegetable consumption can reduce a man’s risk of BPH and LUTS, (Kristal 2008) and benefits are especially good for higher blood levels of carotene and lycopene, which are found in high concentrations in vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, and greens. (Tavani 2005; Rohrmann 2004)

The research findings on alcohol consumption are mixed. While a meta-analysis of 19 studies involving 120,091 men found a 35 percent reduced likelihood of BPH among men who drank moderately daily, the study also found an increased risk of LUTS. (Parsons 2009)

Parsons also reported that research thus far has not reached any definite conclusions about the associations between cholesterol/triglycerides and BPH and LUTS, nor between smoking and both of these conditions.

This review suggests that modifiable lifestyle factors, including exercise, obesity, diabetes, diet, and alcohol consumption have a substantial impact on the development of BPH and LUTS. Parsons thus noted “there is little, if any, downside to promotion of healthy lifestyle interventions—weight loss, exercise, decreasing meat and fat intakes, and increasing vegetable intake—among BPH and LUTS patients.”

Sources

Kristal AR et al. Race/ethnicity, obesity, health related behaviors and the risk of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: results from the prostate cancer prevention trial. J Urol 2007; 177:1395–1400.

Kristal AR et al. Dietary Patterns, Supplement Use, and the Risk of Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. Am J Epidemiol 2008; 167:925–34.

Parsons JK. Lifestyle factors, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and lower urinary tract symptoms. Curr Opin Urol 2011; 21:1-4

Parsons JK, Im R. Alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol 2009; 182:1463–68.

Parsons JK, Kashefi C. Physical activity, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and lower urinary tract symptoms. Eur Urol 2008; 53:1228–35.

Rohrmann S et al. Association between serum concentrations of micronutrients and lower urinary tract symptoms in older men in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Urology 2004; 64:504–9.

Seim A et al.  The prevalence and correlates of urinary tract symptoms in Norwegian men: the HUNT study. BJU Int 2005; 96:88– 92.

Tavani A et al. Intake of selected micronutrients and the risk of surgically treated benign prostatic hyperplasia: A Case–Control Study from Italy. Eur Urol 2005. http://www.sciencedirect.com/ and http://www.europeanurology.com/.

He was introduced to Dr. Eliaz who found that an old injury in Vietnam was the missing piece that needed to be addressed. Read more

“It’s a really sad thing about selenium,” concedes Dr Helen Rippon, head of research management at the UK Prostate Cancer Charity (www.prostate-cancer.org.uk). “All the initial laboratory data seemed to suggest it could be particularly useful in combating prostate cancer, but when it came down to the really big human-based trials it just didn’t cut it.” READ MORE

Dark colas, such as Coke and Pepsi, use a coloring that is manufactured through a chemical reaction between sugars, ammonia, and sulfates.  According to CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson, these reactions produce two carcinogens:  2-methylimidazole (2-MEI) and 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI).  Studies by the National Toxicology Program have identified these two chemicals as causing cancer in animals – specifically of the lung, liver, thyroid, and blood (leukemia).

California has added 4-MEI to its list of carcinogens and is pursuing legislation that would require a product that elevated levels of the chemical to carry a warning on the label.  Levels higher than 16 micrograms per person per day would require a warning.  Jacobson says some sodas have levels eight times higher than that.  A 12-ounce can of cola contains up to 130 micrograms, according to CSPI.

Clear sodas such as Sprite do not contain the caramel coloring.

Jacobson has petitioned the FDA to ban the artificial colorings, which have no nutritional or preservative value, and move toward natural colorings such as from beets or carrots.

Of course, to every story, there is two sides.  The American Beverage Association contends that there is no evidence yet that shows that 4-MEI causes cancer in humans.  Take the case of saccharin, which carried a warning level for years because it caused bladder cancer in rats.  However, it was later discovered that rats respond to saccharin differently than humans, and over time, an increased risk of cancer was not found to occur in humans.

Medpage Today, a news service for physicians developed in part by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, notes that while there was “clear evidence” that 4-MEI caused cancer in mice, the studies in rats were less clear.  They also note that the significant increases in leukemia were found in females and not males.

Even if future studies find no risk in humans, excessive intake of soda is still concerning for other health reasons.  First, regular soft drinks can contribute a significant amount of calories to the diet.  Obesity is rampant now in our country, with over two-thirds of Americans over their ideal body weight.  Excess body weight increases the risk for heart disease (the number one killer of American adults), diabetes, respiratory problems such as sleep apnea, and some types of cancer including those of the colon and pancreas.

But diet soda may be no better.  Another recent study highlighted this month found that diet sodas may potentially increase the risk of strokes by as much as 60%.  In background information for this study, conducted at the University of Miami, notes that those who drink more than one type of soft drink per day, regular or diet, are at a greater risk of metabolic syndrome (a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors) and that this may be contributing to the increase in stroke risk.

The bottom line for health – decrease the amount of soft drinks you consume – regular or diet, brown or clear – and increase your intake of water.  After all, as Dr. Jennifer Ashton says to CBS News, “our bodies are about 60% water, not 60% soda.”