Milkfat compounds and cancer in lab and human studies
What it found
Compounds in milkfat, such as conjugated linoleic acid and sphingomyelin, show anticancer and antimutagenic activity in lab work.
Only some human studies have linked high-fat dairy to lower cancer rates.
What they found
Studies in people
Human cancer rates
Only some studies in people have shown a link between eating more high-fat dairy products and lower cancer rates.
Animal and lab studies
Anticancer compounds in milkfat
Conjugated linoleic acid, coenzyme Q10, phospholipids, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, D and E help balance pro-oxidant and antioxidant activity in the body. Vaccenic acid, conjugated linoleic acid and sphingomyelin have antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties.
Anti-inflammatory fats
Phospholipids and short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids in milkfat are linked to anti-inflammatory effects.
Immune effects of CLA
Conjugated linoleic acid stimulates the immune system and affects the growth and activity of lymphocytes and macrophages.
Gut bacteria effects
Saturated fats (C10 and C12), unsaturated fats (C18) and sphingolipids kill bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
Butyric acid and cancer cells
Butyric acid encourages cancer cells in the liver to self-destruct, and helps in treating breast and colorectal cancer.
Alkylglycerols and immune cells
Alkylglycerols activate macrophages, stimulate phagocytosis and, most importantly, the self-destruction of cancer cells.
What the authors conclude
“More research is needed involving human clinical trials to allow a better understanding of the anticancer biochemistry related with milk fat compounds.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the health benefits of milk fat are not fully exploited because it is eaten so little.
- They call for more research involving human clinical trials to better understand the anticancer biochemistry related to milk fat compounds.
How it was done
Cancer is common, and milkfat contains antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating compounds. The authors wanted to review what is known about the biological activity of milkfat components.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- Most of the anticancer and antimutagenic effects come from lab work, not from studies in people.
- The human evidence is limited to a few studies that can show a link, not cause and effect.
- The authors say more human clinical trials are needed before the anticancer biochemistry of milkfat compounds is well understood.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Warmia and Mazury, Poland; Medical University, Poland
The paper
- Title
- The anticarcinogenic potential of milk fat
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Cichosz G, Czeczot H, Bielecka M (2020). The anticarcinogenic potential of milk fat. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine. doi:10.26444/aaem/116095PubMed 33356054DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error