Results from a large-scale Swedish study involving over 80,000 people suggest that eating cultured milk products such as yoghurt may reduce the risk of someone developing bladder cancer.

Researchers claim that the risk can be reduced by 40% through eating two servings of cultured milk products such as yoghurt or sour milk per day as bacteria in the milk provides protection.

The study involved 82,000 Swedish men and women who, during 1997, were cancer-free. Participants were given a food related questionnaire to complete. During follow-up appointments after a period of around 9 years, 485 participants had been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Of those with the condition, 409 were men and 76 were women.

Dairy intake was not associated with the risk of bladder cancer but significant results for consumption of cultured milk products (sour milk, yoghurt) showed a reduced association to the condition.

Bladder cancer risk has been most associated with smoking and anyone looking to reduce the risk of developing cancer that smokes should consider quitting rather than just consuming cultured dairy products.

Find out more about smoking addiction and giving up smoking here

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