The Role of Cow's Milk Consumption in Breast Cancer Initiation and Progression.

Curr Nutr Rep

Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Regensburg, University of Regensburg, D-93053, Regensburg, Germany.

Published: March 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • This review examines how cow's milk consumption may contribute to the risk of estrogen receptor-α-positive breast cancer (BCa) by connecting recent studies and molecular insights.
  • Evidence from new cohort studies links milk intake to increased levels of IGF-1, insulin, and estrogen, which are all known factors in breast cancer development.
  • Potential harmful components in commercial milk, such as various microRNAs, chemicals, and pollutants, highlight the need for further research to understand how milk exposure during critical developmental periods may influence breast cancer risk.

Article Abstract

Purpose Of Review: This review evaluates cow milk's impact on breast carcinogenesis by linking recent epidemiological evidence and new insights into the molecular signaling of milk and its constituents in breast cancer (BCa) pathogenesis.

Recent Findings: Recent prospective cohort studies support the association between cow's milk consumption and the risk of estrogen receptor-α-positive (ER) BCa. Milk is a complex biological fluid that increases systemic insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin and estrogen signaling, and interacting hormonal promoters of BCa. Further potential oncogenic components of commercial milk include exosomal microRNAs (miR-148a-3p, miR-21-5p), bovine meat and milk factors, aflatoxin M1, bisphenol A, pesticides, and micro- and nanoplastics. Individuals with BRCA1 loss-of-function mutations and FTO and IGF1 gain-of-function polymorphisms enhancing IGF-1/mTORC1 signaling may be at increased risk for milk-induced ER BCa. Recent prospective epidemiological and pathobiochemical studies identify commercial milk consumption as a critical risk factor of ER BCa. Large meta-analyses gathering individuals of different ethnic origins with milk derived from dairy cows of varying genetic backgrounds and diverse feeding procedures as well as missing data on thermal processing of milk (pasteurization versus ultra-heat treatment) make multi-national meta-analyses unsuitable for BCa risk estimations in susceptible populations. Future studies are required that consider all vulnerable periods of breast carcinogenesis to cow's milk exposure, beginning during the perinatal period and puberty, since these are the most critical periods of mammary gland morphogenesis. Notwithstanding the need for better studies including detailed information on milk processing and vulnerable periods of human breast carcinogenesis, the available evidence suggests that dietary guidelines on milk consumption may have to be reconsidered.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9974716PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13668-023-00457-0DOI Listing

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