From: wheeler@super.org (Ferrell S. Wheeler)
Subject: Re: Interested in Calcium ?
Organization: Supercomputing Research Center (Bowie, MD)
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 23:22:17 GMT

Drew Corrigan writes:

> [...]  ...the studies linking milk consumption to ovarian cancer, cataracts
> and juvenile diabetes.

Rich Young responds:

>	Do these studies implicate milk (I'm assuming non-human) specifically,
>	or simply as a part of a non-vegan diet?


Rich,

  These studies focus specifically on cow's milk.  It is important
to note that it is not fat or cholesterol that the links are being
made to, but to either certain dairy proteins or galactose a
breakdown product of lactose.  So low-fat yoghurt or milk are also
culprits...if the hypotheses hold up under further study.  The
references are given below.

Take care,

Ferrell Wheeler
wheeler@super.org


WHAT'S WRONG WITH DAIRY PRODUCTS?

     Most Americans, including many vegetarians, still consume large amounts
of dairy products. Here are ten reasons why it is a good idea to eliminate
dairy products from one's menu.

* One: Fat and Cholesterol
     Dairy products contribute cholesterol and fat to one's diet. Cheese and
ice cream are loaded with fat and cholesterol.1 Studies comparing the
cardiovascular status of ovo-lacto-vegetarians and vegans have proven that
while both are healthier than meat-eaters, vegans have better
cardiovascular status than vegetarians who consume dairy products.2,3 Skim
dairy products are considerably lower in fat; however, they retain the
problems noted below.

* Two: Iron Deficiency
     Iron deficiency is more likely on a dairy-rich diet. Cows' milk products
are very low in iron,1 thus, if they become a major part of one's diet, iron
deficiency is more likely. In addition, clinical studies have shown that
infants consuming cows' milk lose small amounts of blood from their
digestive tracts.

* Three: Diabetes
     Insulin-dependent diabetes (Type I or childhood-onset) is linked to dairy
products. Epidemiological studies of various countries show a strong
correlation between the use of dairy products and the incidence of insulin-
dependent diabetes.4 This is only an association, but researchers have long
suspected that an autoimmune reaction is the cause of this disease. Some
speculate that dairy protein may spark the reaction.

* Four: Ovarian Cancer
     Ovarian cancer is linked to dairy products. The milk sugar lactose is
broken down in the body into another sugar, galactose. In turn, galactose
is broken down further by enzymes. According to a study by Dr. Daniel
Cramer and his colleagues at Harvard,5 when dairy product consumption
exceeds the enzymes' capacity to break down galactose, there is a build-up
of galactose in the blood, which may affect a woman's ovaries. Some women
have particularly low levels of these enzymes, and when they consume dairy
products on a regular basis, their risk of ovarian cancer can be triple
that of other women. The problem is the milk sugar, not the milk fat, thus
non-fat dairy products cannot solve this problem. In fact, yoghurt and
cottage cheese seem to be of most concern because the bacteria used in
their manufacture increase the production of galactose from lactose.

* Five: Cataracts
     Cataracts are also linked to dairy products.6 The galactose that is a
breakdown product of lactose also appears to damage the lens of the eye,
leading to cataracts. There are other factors which also contribute to
cataracts, such as ultraviolet light.

* Six: Lactose Intolerance
     Many people, particularly Asians and Africans, are unable to digest the
milk sugar, lactose. Diarrhea and gas can result. On the other hand, they
may be the lucky ones. Many Caucasians can tolerate lactose, only to be
unable to rapidly breakdown the galactose which circulates in their blood,
possibly contributing to cataracts and ovarian cancer, as noted above.
Lactose intolerance may be nature's early warning system.

* Seven: Food Allergies
     Milk is one of the most common food allergies. Respiratory problems,
canker sores, skin conditions, and other subtle and not-so-subtle allergies
can be caused by dairy products. The sad thing is that many people never
know that they have a dairy sensitivity; they think that their problems are
"normal." If they give themselves a break from dairy products, they might
get a very pleasant surprise. Asthmatics, in particular, should give
themselves a long vacation from dairy products to see whether their
condition improves.

* Eight: Toxins
     Like other products from animals, breast secretions contain frequent
contaminants, from pesticides to drugs. About a third of all milk products
are contaminated with antibiotic traces. The dairy industry slogan
"something for every body" takes on a different meaning doesn't it?

* Nine: Osteoporosis
     Dairy products, despite common myths, do not stop osteoporosis. Evidence
shows that the rate of bone loss is largely unaffected by dairy products.7
Numerous studies have shown that the countries with the highest intake of
dairy products also have the highest incidence of osteoporosis, and that
consuming large amounts of diary products simply will not maintain bone
density.

* Ten: Colic
     One out of every five babies suffers from colic. Pediatricians learned
long ago that cows' milk was often the reason. We now know that breast-
feeding mothers can have colicky babies if the mothers are consuming cow's
milk. The cows' antibodies can pass through the mother's blood stream into
her breast milk and to the baby.8

* References:

1. Pennington JAT, Church HN. Food values of portions commonly used. New
York: Harper and Row, 1985.
2. Sacks FM, Ornish D, Rosner B, et al. Plasma lipoprotein levels in
vegetarians: the effect of ingestion of fats from dairy products. JAMA
1985;254(10):1337-41.

3. Kestin M, Rouse IL, Correll RA, Nestel PJ. Cardiovascular disease risk
factors in free-living men: comparison of two prudent diets, one based on
lactoovovegetarianism and the other allowing lean meat. Am J Clin Nutr
1989;50:280-87.
4. Scott FW. Cow milk and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: is there a
relationship? Am J Clin Nutr 1990;51:489-91.
5. Cramer DW, et al. Galactose consumption and metabolism in relation to
the risk of ovarian cancer. Lancet 1989;2:66-71.
6. Simoons FJ. A geographic approach to senile cataracts: possible links
with milk consumption, lactase activity, and galactose metabolism.
Digestive Disease and Sciences 1982;27:257-64.
7. Kolata G. How important is dietary calcium in preventing osteoporosis?
Science 1986;233:519-20.
8. Clyne PS, Kulczycki A. Human breast milk contains bovine IgG.
Relationship to infant colic? PEDIATRICS 1991;87(4):439-444.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
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