A new national survey suggests that most men in the United States are unaware that dairy consumption may be linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer. Released during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the poll highlights a substantial gap in public knowledge about nutrition and cancer prevention.
The survey of 1,102 adult men, conducted by Morning Consult for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, found that only 20% were aware of research connecting milk and other dairy products with increased prostate cancer risk. Awareness was particularly low among men who had not discussed diet with a healthcare provider.
Once informed about the potential association, two-thirds of respondents said they would likely reduce or avoid dairy products. About three in four men said they would support warning labels on dairy products alerting consumers to possible prostate cancer risks. Researchers say the findings reflect growing concern about the role of diet in men’s health.
Low awareness among patients and doctors
Despite decades of research examining nutrition and cancer, only 20% of surveyed men reported ever receiving information from a healthcare professional about how diet may influence prostate cancer risk. Advocates argue that this reflects a broader lack of emphasis on preventive nutrition in medical practice.
Noah Praamsma, a registered dietitian and nutrition education coordinator with the Physicians Committee, said clinicians need more training. He argues that doctors should be better prepared to discuss the potential harms of high dairy intake and the benefits of plant-based eating patterns with their patients.
Experts emphasize that prostate cancer risk is influenced by multiple factors, including age, genetics, race and lifestyle. Diet represents only one part of this picture, but they say it is a modifiable factor that could help reduce the overall disease burden if consistently addressed in clinical care.
What research says about dairy
Several large analyses have associated higher dairy consumption, particularly milk, with increased prostate cancer risk. A meta-analysis of 32 observational studies reported that men consuming greater amounts of dairy products tended to have a higher likelihood of developing prostate cancer.
In one study, men who drank at least one serving of skim or low-fat milk each day had a 19% higher risk of prostate cancer than those who rarely consumed it. Another long-term study involving 3,612 men followed for up to a decade found that those consuming the most low-fat dairy, approximately three servings per day, were more than twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as men consuming less than one serving daily.
Research has also examined prostate cancer mortality in relation to dairy intake. A meta-analysis of 11 studies involving more than 700,000 participants found that men who consumed the most whole milk had up to a 50% higher risk of dying from prostate cancer compared with those who consumed the least.
Scientists have proposed several possible mechanisms, including the effects of growth factors in milk, higher circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 and increased calcium intake potentially affecting vitamin D metabolism. However, experts caution that observational studies cannot establish cause and effect, and further research is needed to clarify the biological pathways involved.
Rising interest in plant-based diets
The survey also found that most men were aware of the potential protective role of plant foods. Many respondents recognized that fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes could help lower prostate cancer risk, reflecting a broader shift in attitudes toward plant-based eating.
Evidence from large cohort studies supports these perceptions. The Adventist Health Study-2 reported that men following a vegan diet had a 35% lower risk of prostate cancer compared with those following nonvegetarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian or semi-vegetarian diets. The vegan group avoided all animal products, including dairy.
Plant-focused diets may also provide benefits following diagnosis. In a study involving more than 2,000 men with prostate cancer, those consuming the highest amounts of plant-based foods had a 56% lower risk of disease progression and a 59% lower risk of recurrence compared with men who consumed the fewest plant foods.
Nutrition specialists note that plant-based diets tend to contain more fiber, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds while being lower in saturated fat. These characteristics may support hormone regulation, immune function and overall metabolic health, potentially influencing the course of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer burden remains high
Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death, according to the American Cancer Society. The disease disproportionately affects older men, with risk increasing sharply after age 50.
In its latest projections, the American Cancer Society estimates that hundreds of thousands of new prostate cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States in the coming years, while tens of thousands of men will die from the disease annually. These figures underscore the importance of both early detection and preventive strategies.
Screening with prostate-specific antigen blood tests and digital rectal examinations can help identify the disease earlier, when it is more treatable. At the same time, researchers and advocacy groups are urging policymakers, clinicians and the public to pay greater attention to lifestyle factors, including diet, that may influence long-term outcomes.
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research and advocates for higher ethical standards in medical education and research. The organization has long supported plant-based nutrition as a strategy for reducing the risk of chronic diseases, including cancer.
