Daily Glass of Milk Linked to Reduced Bowel Cancer Risk, Study Finds

Oxford-led research highlights calcium's protective role against bowel cancer, while alcohol and red meat increase risk factors.

A comprehensive study involving over 540,000 women found that consuming 300mg of calcium daily, equivalent to a glass of milk, reduces bowel cancer risk by 17%.
The research, published in *Nature Communications*, identified calcium from both dairy and non-dairy sources as protective, but did not examine calcium supplements.
Alcohol consumption was linked to a 15% increased risk of bowel cancer, with processed and red meats also raising risk levels.
Experts emphasize maintaining a balanced diet, healthy weight, and avoiding smoking as key preventative measures for bowel cancer, which affects over 44,000 people annually in the UK.
The study suggests calcium may reduce cancer risk by binding to bile acids and fatty acids in the bowel, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.