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Cited by 15Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth FactorsNutritional Studies and DietCancer Risks and Factors

Acne, dairy and cancer: The 5α-P link

Open access
Danby, William·2009·Dermato-Endocrinology
DOI 10.4161/derm.1.1.7124PMC PMC2715202
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Abstract

A potent link to dairy seems to exist for three hormone-responsive glands. Acne, breast cancer and prostate cancer have all been linked epidemiologically to dairy intake. Although mechanisms postulated here remain to be accurately defined, the likely link involves Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 as a general stimulant, synergized by the steroid hormones present in milk. The IGF-1 may be either absorbed from milk, or stimulated by its ingestion, or both. The 5alpha-reduced compound 5alpha-pregnanedione (5alpha-P) present in milk is a direct precursor of dihydrotestosterone and may act through that pathway in prostate cancer, but 5alpha-P has also recently been shown to be capable of inducing estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, upregulating cancer cells' sensitivity to estrogen. The introduction of exogenous hormones and growth factors into tissues that have not evolved defensive feedback inhibition of their corresponding endogenous sources is postulated as a direct stimulatory threat to these organ systems, whether for hyperplasia or neoplasia.

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  • A majority of the negative studies, including 1 notable study that reported that increased milk consumption decreased the risk of acne scarring, were conducted in countries outside the United States and Europe.

    “Importantly, a majority of the negative studies, including 1 notable study that reported that increased milk consumption decreased the risk of acne scarring,53,54 were conducted in countries outside the United States and Europe.”

    From Diet and acne: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [53]

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Research works printed but not linked: 24

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Authors
Danby, W.
Affiliations
Dartmouth College (US)
Corresponding author
Danby, William
Venue
Dermato-Endocrinology
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2009-01
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
12-16
ISSN
  • 1938-1972 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-1980
DOI
10.4161/derm.1.1.7124
PMC
PMC2715202
OpenAlex
W1552255833
Cited by
15
References
0
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
FWCI
1.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Dermato-Endocrinology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
Keywords
acne, dairy consumption, breast cancer, prostate cancer, insulin-like growth factor I, dihydrotestosterone, growth factors, endocrine disruption, hyperplasia, cancer

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