Most Men Unaware That Dairy Intake Is Linked to Prostate Cancer Risk

• A new survey found that only 1 in 5 men in the United States is aware of the potential link between dairy product consumption and prostate cancer risk.
• Only 20% of men surveyed said they had received information from a medical professional about how nutrition can impact prostate cancer risk.
• Body fat and family history might have a bigger impact on prostate cancer risk than dairy products and other dietary considerations.

In a new report, researchers say that the vast majority of men are unaware of the potential link between diet, in particular dairy products, and the risk of prostate cancer.

The researchers reported that a survey they commissioned found that only 20% of U.S. males knew that consuming milk and other dairy products was linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Once they were informed about the risks, 66% of those surveyed said they would be inclined to avoid or reduce dairy products in their diet.

About 76% of respondents also said they would support requiring warning labels on dairy products to inform people about the associated risk of prostate cancer.

Over half of those surveyed said they were aware that exercise and consumption of fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

However, the survey indicated that only 20% of males had received information from a healthcare professional about the relationship between prostate cancer risk and nutrition.

The online questionnaire involved 1,102 males living in the United States. The survey, conducted in early August, was conducted by Morning Consult for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Members of that organization said their survey shows a need for more awareness on this topic in the medical field.

“Physicians and other healthcare professionals need more education on the dangers of dairy products and the benefits of a plant-based diet for prostate cancer,” said Noah Praamsma, MS, RDN, a dietitian and nutrition education coordinator with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

However, experts not involved in the survey told Healthline that the connection between diet, dairy products, and prostate cancer risk hasn’t been well established. Body fat and family history are likely to have a greater impact on prostate cancer risk than dairy intake.

“It isn’t an evidence-backed prevention strategy and nothing here supports eliminating dairy or going fully plant-based for prostate cancer prevention specifically,” said Ying Wang, PhD, a senior principal scientist in epidemiology research at the American Cancer Society (ACS).

S. Adam Ramin, MD, a urologist, urologic oncologist, and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles, has a similar opinion.

“The relationship between dairy consumption and prostate cancer remains an area of ongoing research, but I would not consider dairy consumption alone to be a major or definitive risk factor for prostate cancer,” Ramin told Healthline.

How diet may impact prostate cancer risk

There has been research in the past that has explored the connection between diet, dairy products, and prostate cancer risk and mortality.

Most of that research is more than a decade old, however.

A 2015 meta-analysis of 32 previous studies that was published reported an association between an elevated risk of prostate cancer among people who consumed larger amounts of dairy products.

Another 2013 study published in February 2013 concluded that people who consumed at least 1 serving of skim or low fat milk each day had a 19% increased risk of prostate cancer compared to people who rarely drank skim or low fat milk.

A 2005 study published in May 2005 tracked more than 3,600 males over an 8- to 10-year period. Those researchers reported that males with the highest consumption of dairy (about 3 servings per day) were more than twice as likely to develop prostate cancer compared to males who consumed less than 1 serving per day.

In addition, some past research has indicated that a diet including “red foods,” such as tomatoes and watermelon, that contain lycopene may help reduce the progression and growth of prostate cancer cells.

A diet that includes fresh fruit, especially citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit, has also been listed as a way to help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

A 2016 study concluded that males following a vegan diet had a 35% lower prostate cancer risk.

Other research has indicated that a healthy diet may lower the risk of cancer progression and mortality.

A 2023 study that involved 2,000 males with prostate cancer reported that the participants who followed a diet consisting largely of plant-based foods had a 52% lower risk of prostate cancer progression as well as a 53% lower risk of prostate cancer recurrence.

These results, however, were preliminary and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

A 2016 meta-analysis examined dairy consumption and cancer mortality. That analysis looked at 11 previous studies involving over 700,000 participants. It reported that males with the highest consumption of whole milk had a 50% higher risk of death from prostate cancer than males with the lowest consumption of whole milk.

However, Wang noted that the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Cancer Research Institute both grade the evidence linking dairy and dietary calcium to prostate cancer as “limited-suggestive,” two tiers below “convincing.”

“Some observational studies have suggested a possible association between higher consumption of dairy products, particularly milk, and prostate cancer risk, but these studies do not prove that dairy causes prostate cancer,” added Ramin. “The evidence is also not consistent enough to recommend that men completely eliminate dairy from their diets.”

What to know about prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death in U.S. males.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates there will be more than 330,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2026, with more than 36,000 deaths from the disease.

The organization notes that prostate cancer cases increased about 3% per year between 2014 and 2022, with the steepest rise occurring in advanced-stage diagnoses.

According to the ACS, the increase in diagnoses is largely due to more males being screened for the disease. The organization also notes that Black males have a higher incidence of prostate cancer than white males.

However, the ACS states that there is a 99% 5-year survival rate if prostate cancer is detected in its early stages.

Prostate cancer occurs when malignant cells form a tumor in the prostate gland, which can then spread to other parts of the body. It is considered to be a slow-growing cancer.

Some common risk factors for prostate cancer include:

• being over the age of 50
• having a family history of the disease
• obesity

Additionally, a recent study reported that an enhanced diet and exercise program, along with behavioral support, can improve the quality of life for males undergoing prostate cancer treatment.

Wang said the only modifiable lifestyle factor with a strong evidence link to prostate cancer risk is body fat, and that is specifically graded for advanced prostate cancer.

Nonetheless, Wang said a healthy lifestyle is still important. “So, maintain a healthy weight, stay active, don’t smoke, and eat a healthy diet,” she told Healthline.

Ramin agreed. “There is no guaranteed way to prevent prostate cancer, but men can take several steps that support overall health and may help reduce their risk,” he said.

“Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet rich in plant-based foods, avoiding tobacco, and limiting excessive alcohol consumption are all reasonable lifestyle measures.”

Wang added that regular PSA screenings are also important, especially for people of African ancestry or a family history of prostate cancer.

Ramin said this is sound advice. “Just as important is understanding your individual risk and talking with your physician about prostate cancer screening,” he said. “Prostate cancer can develop without causing any symptoms in its early stages, so waiting until urinary problems, pain, or blood in the urine develop is not an appropriate screening strategy. For many men, PSA testing can be an important part of that conversation.”

“The most important message I would give men is not to be afraid of screening or to assume that the absence of symptoms means everything is fine,” Ramin added. “Knowing your risk and having an informed conversation with your doctor gives you the opportunity to detect prostate cancer earlier, when treatment is more likely to be successful.”