Milkfat components and cancer prevention in the lab
What it found
Milkfat contains compounds that lab and animal studies suggest may fight cancer, but studies in people give mixed results.
The authors say more human trials are needed.
What they found
Studies in people
Studies in people
Epidemiological studies on full-fat dairy and cancer risk are inconsistent. Some found lower breast cancer rates in countries where ripened cheese is eaten more, but others found a higher prostate cancer risk with whole milk.
Animal and lab studies
Cancer in animals
Animal diets with 0.05 to 1.5% CLA slowed the progression of skin, mammary, gastric and colorectal cancers. Sphingomyelin from milk showed protective effects in mice with chemically induced colorectal cancer.
Cancer cells in lab
Lab studies found that CLA, vaccenic acid, vitamin K2, and 13-methyltetradecanoic acid can slow cancer cell growth or trigger cell death in various cancer cell lines.
Studies in people and animals
Immune effects
In a randomised trial, people taking a mix of CLA isomers (3 g/day for 12 weeks) had higher IgA and IgM levels and lower IgE. CLA also affected immune cells in lab studies.
Other findings
Antioxidants in milkfat
Milkfat is a rich source of fat-soluble antioxidants like CLA, coenzyme Q10, phospholipids, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, D and E. These help balance oxidation in the body.
Contaminants in milkfat
Milkfat can contain pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins and pesticides, which have mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Milk from cows with mastitis has higher levels of inflammatory compounds and IGF-1.
What the authors conclude
- They say the health benefits of milkfat are not fully exploited because people eat too little of it.
- They call for more research involving human clinical trials to better understand the anticancer biochemistry of milkfat compounds.
- They note that eliminating milkfat from the diet may not only reduce cancer prevention but increase cancer risk.
How it was done
Cancer rates are high and rising, including in younger people. The authors wanted to review what is known about the biological activity of milkfat components.
The authors reviewed published research on milkfat components, including lab experiments, animal studies, and studies in people.
What it can’t tell you
- Most of the evidence comes from lab and animal studies, which cannot show what happens in people.
- The studies in people are inconsistent and cannot prove that milkfat prevents or causes cancer.
- The authors say that the effect of one or several nutrients on cancer is hard to confirm or rule out with certainty.
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
- Full text
- Cite
- Cichosz G, Czeczot H, Bielecka M (2020). The anticarcinogenic potential of milk fat. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine. doi:10.26444/aaem/116095Free full textPubMed 33356054DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error