Abstract
Many epidemiologic studies have explored the association between dairy product consumption and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but the results remain controversial. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science and Embase for relevant articles published up to October 2015. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with a random-effects model. The dose-response relationship was assessed by restricted cubic spline. A total of 16 articles were eligible for this meta-analysis. The pooled RRs (95% CIs) of NHL for the highest vs. lowest category of the consumption of total dairy product, milk, butter, cheese, ice cream and yogurt were 1.20 (1.02, 1.42), 1.41 (1.08, 1.84), 1.31 (1.04, 1.65), 1.14 (0.96, 1.34), 1.57 (1.11, 2.20) and 0.78 (0.54, 1.12), respectively. In subgroup analyses, the positive association between total dairy product consumption and the risk of NHL was found among case-control studies (RR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.17–1.70) but not among cohort studies (RR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.88–1.17). The pooled RRs (95% CIs) of NHL were 1.21 (1.01, 1.46) for milk consumption in studies conducted in North America, and 1.24 (1.09, 1.40) for cheese consumption in studies that adopted validated food frequency questionnaires. In further analysis of NHL subtypes, we found statistically significant associations between the consumption of total dairy product (RR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.22–2.45) and milk (RR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08–2.06) and the risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The dose-response analysis suggested that the risk of NHL increased by 5% (1.05 (1.00–1.10)) and 6% (1.06 (0.99–1.13)) for each 200 g/day increment of total dairy product and milk consumption, respectively. This meta-analysis suggested that dairy product consumption, but not yogurt, may increase the risk of NHL. More prospective cohort studies that investigate specific types of dairy product consumption are needed to confirm this conclusion.
Highlights
Dairy product is an important part of diet in many countries around the world
The inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) case-control or cohort study published as an original study; (2) the exposure of interest were total dairy product, milk, butter, cheese, yogurt or ice cream; (3) the outcome of interest was non-Hodgkin lymphoma; (4) relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were provided; (5) the most recent and complete study was selected if data from the same population had been published more than once
In subgroup analyses that were stratified by the continent in which the studies were conducted, milk consumption was associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) among studies conducted in North America, and cheese consumption was associated with an increased risk of NHL among studies conducted in Europe
Summary
Dairy product is an important part of diet in many countries around the world. Itcontains many essential nutrients, such as fats, proteins, minerals, vitamin D, and other bioactive nutrients.Dairy product can increase the content of total body and lumbar spine bone mineral in children [1]and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease [2], type 2 diabetes [3] and colorectal cancer [4].in recent years, some studies have shown that excessive consumption of dairy product may be associated with several adverse health effects, for instance Parkinson’s disease [5] and prostate cancer [6]. Dairy product is an important part of diet in many countries around the world. Itcontains many essential nutrients, such as fats, proteins, minerals, vitamin D, and other bioactive nutrients. Dairy product can increase the content of total body and lumbar spine bone mineral in children [1]. Decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease [2], type 2 diabetes [3] and colorectal cancer [4]. In recent years, some studies have shown that excessive consumption of dairy product may be associated with several adverse health effects, for instance Parkinson’s disease [5] and prostate cancer [6]. It is necessary to further explore the health effect of dairy product on non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
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