Milk-and-Dairy-Products-in-Human-Nutrition-FAO

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Milk and dairy products in human nutrition
The conclusions of Lampe (2011), that “meta-analyses of cohort data available to
date support an inverse association between milk intake and risk of colorectal and
bladder cancer and a positive association between diets high in calcium and risk
of prostate cancer”, and of Aune et al. (2012), “that milk and total dairy products,
but not cheese or other [individual] dairy products, are associated with a reduction
in colorectal cancer risk”, were consistent with those of WCRF and AICR (2007,
2008a, 2008b). With regard to bladder cancer, while Mao et al. (2011) concluded that
milk may be related to the reduction of bladder cancer risk, Li et al. (2011) reported
that their findings were not supportive of an independent relationship between the
intake of milk or dairy products and the risk of bladder cancer. Both Mao et al.
(2011) and Li et al. (2011) observed differences between geographical areas, which
may reflect the different compositions of dairy products consumed in different
parts of the world or ethnic differences; this warrants further research. Other areas
where further research is needed include the effect of specific dairy products and
constituents of dairy products such as rumen-derived metabolites and live microbes
present in some dairy products on cancer risk.
4.10 Milk hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity to milk may be attributed to either lactose or protein in milk
(Figure 4.2). Sensitivity to cow-milk protein causes varying degrees of injury to the
intestinal mucosal surface (Heyman, 2006). In contrast, ingestion of dairy products
resulting in symptoms of lactose intolerance generally leads to transient symptoms
without causing harm to the gastrointestinal tract (Heyman, 2006).
figure 4.2
Milk hypersensitivity: difference between milk allergy and intolerance
Milk
hypersensitivity
Immunological
Non
immunological
Antibody
mediated
Milk protein
allergy
Lactose
intolerance
Source: Adapted from Johansson et al., 2001 and Monaci et al., 2006.