Four out of five men are still unaware that an element of their daily diet is linked to prostate cancer. A survey carried out in the United States among 1,102 American men shows that only 20% know that a specific nutritional factor can increase this risk. And where the surprise continues is that only 20% say they have received any information from a caregiver on this subject.
This factor is the consumption of milk and other
dairy products. According to the survey, only 20% of participants were aware of this link, but once informed, 66% said they were willing to avoid or reduce these foods, and 76% supported the idea of a warning on the packaging. For Noah Praamsma, of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, “Doctors and other health professionals need more education on the dangers of dairy and the benefits of a plant-based diet for prostate cancer“.
What the survey reveals about dairy products and prostate cancer
The Morning Consult survey was conducted online from August 3 to 5, 2026 among 1,102 American adult men, confirming a double blind spot: very few men are aware of the possible link between
dairy products and prostate cancer, and very few have heard about it from a health professional. However, a large majority say they are ready to adapt their diet if they have clear information.
In France, prostate cancer affects between 50,000 and 60,000 men each year and remains the second cause of death from male cancer, despite 80% of diagnoses at a still localized stage. In this context, a potentially modifiable but little-known dietary risk raises questions.
Dairy products, increased risk and the plant-based diet trail
Scientifically, a meta-analysis of 32 cohort studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that high consumption of dairy products, milk, skim or low-fat milk, cheese and dietary calcium is associated with an increased total risk of prostate cancer. A study cited by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine observed that at least one daily serving of low-fat or low-fat milk was linked to a 19% higher risk compared to consuming it infrequently.
In another cohort of 3,612 men followed for 8 to 10 years, those who consumed about three daily servings of low-fat dairy products were more than twice as likely to develop the disease as the lowest consumers. A meta-analysis of 11 cohorts, published in Nutrition Journal and involving 778,929 participants, did not find an overall effect of dairy products on cancer mortality, but it showed that high consumption of whole milk in men increased the risk of death from prostate cancer by approximately 50%. These results remain statistical associations and do not prove that dairy products directly cause the disease.
How to react to this little-known risk linked to dairy products?
The other side of the research suggests that a
plant-based diet can be protective. The Adventist Health Study-2 observed that a vegan diet was associated with a 35% lower risk of prostate cancer compared to other dietary patterns. A study of more than 2,000 men already affected linked the highest consumption of plant foods to a 56% reduction in the risk of progression and a 59% reduction in the risk of recurrence. “The most encouraging thing about our work is that most of the men interviewed know that fruits, vegetables, grains and beans can help protect them.“, emphasizes Noah Praamsma, dietician and nutrition education coordinator at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
For a man, these data do not imply abruptly stopping all dairy productsbut they encourage you to discuss diet with your doctor, especially in the event of high risk or already diagnosed cancer. Reducing the place of milk, cheese and dairy desserts in favor of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes is in line with the available results, while remaining a decision to be adapted with a health professional.