High consumption of milk may increase bone fracture and mortality risk in men and women.
This study was carried out to determine the association between milk consumption and mortality and fracture risk. Using food frequency questionnaires, researchers examined the diets of 45,339 men between the ages of 45-79 years and 61,433 women between the ages of 39-74 from 3 counties in Central Sweden. The fracture and mortality risk hazard ratios were measured in all the subjects.
Researchers observed a higher incidence of fracture (especially hip fractures) and mortality in subjects who consumed the most milk than those who ingested the least amount of milk. High concentrations of serum interlukin (biomarker of inflammation) and urine 8-iso-PGF2α (biomarker of oxidative stress) were found in subjects with high milk intake in this study. Inflammation and oxidative stress are positively associated with elevated mortality and fracture risk in both genders. The results of this study contradict the popular belief that consuming large quantities of milk is essential for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in men and women.