Dairy, calcium, vitamin D and ovarian cancer risk in African American women

Abstract
 

Background:

No previous study has evaluated the associations of dairy products, lactose, calcium and vitamin D with the risk of ovarian cancer in African–American women, who are known to have high mortality from the disease, as well as to be at risk for calcium and vitamin D deficiency.

Methods:

We evaluated these associations among 490 ovarian cancer cases and 656 age- and site-matched controls of African–American descent recruited into the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study, a population-based case-control study in 11 geographical areas in the US. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results:

An increased ovarian cancer risk was observed for whole milk consumption and lactose intake (highest quartile vs lowest: OR=1.97. Calcium intake was associated with a decreased risk of ovarian cancer OR=0.51, but vitamin D intake was not. Longer sun exposure in summer months was found to predict a lower risk (OR=0.71).

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that a high-calcium, low-lactose diet, and sun exposure in summer months may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in African–American women.