Eating meat and dairy products could increase the risk of prostate cancer, a new study has suggested.

A team of scientists from UK academic institution the University of Oxford inspected the results of a dozen studies, which included nearly 9,000 male participants.

Published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, the study found those men who had high levels of the hormone Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) in there blood were up to 40 per cent more likely to develop prostate cancer than those with lower amounts.

The BBC notes a diet high in dairy and meat products raises levels of IGF-1.

Dr Andrew Roddam, lead author of the research, states there is a need to identify prostate cancer risk factors and in particular those which can be treated by changes in lifestyle.

"Now we know this factor is associated with the disease we can start to examine how diet and lifestyle factors can affect its levels and whether changes could reduce a man's risk," he adds.

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