February 25th, 2009

Reports the New York Times:

A huge study of nearly half a million people found that older men and women who consumed large amounts of dairy foods and calcium were at reduced risk of developing digestive cancers, especially colorectal cancer. The findings have reignited a long-simmering debate over calcium’s potential to fight colon cancer.

Among women, high calcium intake was associated with a reduced overall cancer risk as well, the study found.

Previous studies have produced mixed results regarding the link between calcium and colon cancer.

…

The study examined the relationship between dairy and calcium intake and cancers among 293,907 men and 198,903 women ages 50 to 71 who participated in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study.

Learn more about the study at the NYT.