Eating cheese, butter and yoghurt increases our risk of prostate cancer , a study suggests.
Those who ate a lot of dairy products were more likely to develop the disease.
Researchers reviewed 47 studies published since 2006 including more than a million participants.
Dairy products, which include milk and products made from milk, are a major source of calcium in the West, which is vital for bones.
Around 47,700 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year and the number is rising.
It is the most common cancer for men and claims around 12,000 lives annually.
Lead author John Shin, oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in the US, said: “Our review highlighted a cause for concern with high consumption of dairy products.
“The findings also support a growing body of evidence on the potential benefits of plant-based diets.”
The study authors found no clear association of increased risk of prostate cancer linked to other animal-based foods such as red and white meat, processed meats and fish.
Researchers said there are lower rates of prostate cancer in Asian countries, where intake of dairy products is low.
The findings are published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland.
Cancer is when abnormal cells start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. The cells can grow into surrounding tissues or organs, and may spread to other areas of the body.
Researchers identified a fall in risk of prostate cancer associated with “plant-based” diets.
Previous studies have indicated that eating dairy products may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
