As “The Sun” writes, not all nutrition specialists agree with this position. They emphasize that current data is insufficient to recommend men to give up milk, and the product itself remains an accessible source of protein, calcium, and B vitamins.
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Is the benefit of milk for bones overrated?
The founder of the nutrition app “Zoe,” Professor T. Spector of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, questioned claims that milk has great benefits for bones and the heart on his blog.
He acknowledged that milk consumption is associated with a lower risk of colon cancer but pointed out that higher amounts, especially of full-fat milk, in some studies were linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer.
A 2015 analysis published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” covering 32 studies, found that high consumption of dairy products, milk, skim milk, and cheese may be associated with a higher overall risk of prostate cancer.
However, the authors of the study themselves noted that dairy product and calcium consumption may be associated with other factors such as physical activity, smoking, or alcohol consumption.
T. Spector also states that higher milk consumption, in his assessment, has little or no effect on the risk of bone fractures. There may be a slight effect on the risk of vertebral fractures but not on frequent wrist or hip fractures.
“I am especially cautious about calls for men to consume milk abundantly due to a possible link with prostate cancer,” said the professor.
Nevertheless, he did not advise completely giving up milk. If a person likes milk, according to T. Spector, there is no serious reason to avoid it, especially to give up a small amount of milk in tea or coffee. However, the professor himself would prefer yogurt, kefir, or other fermented products.
No reason to exclude milk from the diet
Such statements received criticism from other nutrition specialists. Dietitian Dr. Carrie Ruxton, working in Scotland, said she was disappointed by T. Spector’s statement because, in her opinion, it is more based on personal position than sufficient scientific evidence.
She emphasized that milk is a source of high-quality protein, calcium, B vitamins, and magnesium. Some groups of people, such as adolescent girls, may lack some of these nutrients in their diet.
“If people like to drink milk or add it to tea, coffee, or breakfast cereals, they can continue to do so,” said the dietitian.
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She also considers yogurt a good choice and notes that its consumption is associated with benefits for bone health and a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.
What to replace milk with?
Professor Gunter Kuhnle, an expert in food science and nutrition at the University of Reading, agreed that milk is probably not an irreplaceable product for adults.
However, according to him, this does not mean it should be avoided. “I don’t think milk consumption as part of a healthy diet does harm,” he said.
The professor acknowledged that there is some data about a link between higher consumption of milk and other dairy products and prostate cancer, but this is not a reason to completely give them up.
He said it is much more important to look at what milk replaces in a person’s diet. For example, a glass of milk instead of a sugar-sweetened soft drink would often be a better choice. However, comparing milk to water is more complicated: milk provides protein and calcium but also has more energy value and fat.
Does milk protect against bone fractures?
Family doctor Dr. Suzanne Wylie also noted that milk consumption alone is unlikely to protect a healthy adult from bone fractures.
However, she said this does not mean milk is ineffective or harmful. It is simply one of many foods that provide nutrients necessary for bone health.
Speaking about the possible risk of prostate cancer, the doctor emphasized that research on this topic is ongoing, but current evidence is insufficient to recommend men to give up milk solely for this reason.
Moreover, some data show the opposite effect in the case of other diseases – dairy product consumption is associated with a lower risk of bowel cancer.
Therefore, according to specialists, the overall picture is not straightforward. Milk should not be considered either an essential “superfood” or a product that a healthy person should avoid. Much more important is the overall diet.
