A daily glass of milk may cut the risk of bowel cancer by 17%

Having a large glass of milk every day may cut the risk of bowel cancer by nearly a fifth, according to the largest study conducted into diet and the disease.

- Ian Sample

The 300mg of calcium found in half a pint of milk was associated with a 17% lower risk of bowel cancer, researchers said, with non-dairy sources of calcium such as fortified soy milk having a similar protective effect for each 300mg of calcium.

"This comprehensive study provides robust evidence that dairy products may help prevent colorectal cancer, largely due to the calcium they contain," said Dr Keren Papier, the first author of the study and a senior nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Oxford. "Calcium was found to have a similar effect in both dairy and non-dairy sources, suggesting that it was the main factor responsible for cutting risk."