Dairy and Calcium Dangers for Males

Calcium is an incredibly important element in the human body.  Virtually everyone knows that our bone composition and health is dependent on calcium, but few realize that calcium acts as an "electronic switch" for our neurons and is critically important to the brain. 

Furthermore, Vitamin D and calcium (and therefore dairy) have been shown (at least in women) to help the body shed fat metabolically and the protein helps build and maintain muscle as well. [1] The females in this study lost about 4 pounds of fat and simultaneously gained 4 pounds of muscle, a nice exchange to say the least.

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Calcium is used in so many chemical processes in the body that it would impossible to go into them all, but it does, for example, help with periodontal (gum) disease [3] and I have mentioned elsewhere, in my link on High Blood Pressure and Erections, how it forms a trinity of elements with sodium and potassium to help avoid hypertension.

All of that said, it is definitely possible for men to have "too much of a good thing" and calcium is no exception.  Both calcium and dairy can easily lead to very dangerous situations for males, including cancers, and so a few cautions are in order:

1.  Prostate Cancer.  My Prostate Cancer link covers the study that shows that overly high calcium intakes can put males at greater risk for prostate cancer.  

2.  Cancer Promotion.  Casein, the chief protein in milk and dairy is a known increaser of IGF-1 and IGF-1, in turn, is a known cancer-promoter, especially as we age.  I cover this in detail in my link on IGF-1.

3.  Inflammation.  Casein is also a known promoter of inflammation and it is even used in animal studies to do the same. [2]  Another interesting example is how small amounts of dark chocolate have been found to lower inflammation levels but additional amounts yield no net benefit.  The reason?  It is likely the casein in the chocolate overcoming cacao's excellent benefits.

So, again, moderation is the key.  I personally try not to consume more than 1-2 times the RDA for calcium.  Do your research and be cautious. 

REFERENCES:

1) Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Jun 2010, 42(6):1122-1130, "Body Composition and Strength Changes in Women with Milk and Resistance Exercise"

2)  Mediators Inflamm, 2004 Feb, 13(1): 33–37, "Analysis of leukocyte rolling and migration--using inhibitors in the undisturbed microcirculation of the rat mesentery--on inflammatory stimulation"

3) Journal of Periodontology, Jul 2000, 71(7):1057-1066, "Calcium and the Risk For Periodontal Disease"