Anticancer properties of bovine milk

Improved means of cancer prevention and treatment remain key goals of globa l health programmes. This is particularly true in Western society, where th e elderly represent a large proportion of the population, and where the lik elihood of tumour development is compounded by risk factors such as poor fi bre/high fat diets and environmental pollution. Dietary intervention repres ents an attractive, non-invasive means of providing anticancer preventative and therapeutic benefits to at-risk individuals. This review focuses on th e evidence for anticancer properties of bovine milk and milk-derived compon ents. Evidence of a role for whole milk constituents, as well as purified m inor components, in combating tumorigenesis is outlined. Shortcomings in cu rrent studies are highlighted, and future opportunities for targeted resear ch to characterize important anticancer properties of milk are discussed.