It’s long been known that milk is good for your teeth and bones.
But a diet high in calcium could also slash the risk of colon cancer, encouraging new research suggested today.
The disease, which kills almost 17,000 Brits each year, is climbing in the under 50s.
According to the most recent international data, this surge is hitting Britain more dramatically than the majority of other Western countries, including the US.
Now, researchers in the US, have found those who consumed more than 1700mg of calcium per day — more than the recommended NHS daily allowance — reduced their risk of bowel cancer, or colon cancer, as it’s known in the US, by more than a quarter.
The scientists, who tracked more than 470,000 adults, said this was compared to those who had a daily intake of just 400mg — just over half of the health’s services recommendation.
Experts today said the findings were ‘significant’ but cautioned further research was first vital.
Writing in the journal JAMA Network Open, they said: ‘Increasing calcium intake, particularly among population subgroups with lower intakes, may be associated with a reduction in avoidable differences in colon cancer risk.’
Researchers in the US, have found those who consumed more than 1700mg of calcium per day — more than the recommended NHS daily allowance — reduced their risk of bowel cancer, or colon cancer, as it’s known in the US, by more than a quarter.
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss a s a result of these symptoms
In the study, researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Washington followed 471,396 adults with an average age of 62, all of whom were cancer free.
Over a follow up of 18 years, they found 10,618 people had been diagnosed with colon cancer.
Women with the highest calcium intake consumed around 2056mg per day on average and men, 1773mg per day.
By contrast, women in the lowest bracket had an average daily intake of 401mg and men, 407mg.
Those in the highest category were 29 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer than adults in the lowest calcium bracket, the researchers found.
They added: ‘We observed statistically significant associations between total calcium intake and cancer risk for each subsite.
‘Overall, for each additional 300 mg/d in total, dietary, and supplemental calcium intake, there was an 8 per cent, 10 per cent, and 5per cent decrease in colon cancer risk, respectively.’
Calcium was found to have a similar effect from both dairy and non-dairy sources, suggesting it was the main factor responsible for cutting risk.
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The NHS advises adults aged 19 to 64 and over need 700mg of calcium a day, with Brits able to get all the calcium they need from their daily diet.
Consuming more than 1,500mg per day however, could lead to stomach pain and diarrhoea, the health service warns.
The findings come just months after experts continued to express their ongoing concern over an ‘epidemic’ of bowel cancers among young people.
Small bowel cancer, cancer that develops in the small intestine, accounts for around 1,800 cases in the UK each year, according to Cancer Research UK.
Data shows the disease has risen by 50 per cent in 20, 30 and 40-somethings, which are defined as ‘early onset’ cancer cases, over the past 30 years.
Oncologist Dr Shivan Sivakumar, from the University of Birmingham, previously described the situation as an ‘epidemic’.
He said: ‘There is an epidemic currently of young people (under 50) getting cancer.
‘It is unknown the cause of this, but we are seeing more patients getting abdominal cancers.’
Analysis released by the Bowelbabe Fund — set up in memory of Deborah James (pictured) — projected that if current trends continue, bowel cancer cases will rise from the 42,800 now, to 47,700
Actor Chadwick Boseman is one famous face killed by early onset cancer, defined medically as a case of the disease striking someone under the age of 50, in the Black Panther star’s case it was colon cancer
Experts have been stumped on what is driving the phenomenon with theories including our increasing taste for junk food — and a co-current rise in obesity, affecting the health of our digestive system.
However, cancer specialists have told MailOnline this doesn’t explain the rise in the disease in young people, a significant portion of which are otherwise perfectly fit and healthy.
One of the recognised victims of the trend is Deborah James — known as ‘bowel babe’ — who was diagnosed at just 35 and raised millions for charity in her final days in 2022.
James spoke of her rigorous exercise routine, and being in the best shape of her life when she developed the illness.
Male celebrities have also been struck by the disease. Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman was killed by colon cancer at just 43.
Analysis suggests deaths from bowel cancer overall in the UK are set to rise by 2,500 a year between now and 2040.
Meanwhile, the number of people in the UK diagnosed with the disease will rise by around a tenth in the same period.
Bowel cancer currently kills just shy of 17,000 Brits each year with only half of those diagnosed expected to survive 10 years after learning they have the disease.
