Nutraceutical
Calcium

Indication
Colon Cancer

Source
Cancer Causes and Control 2003;14:1-12

Research
Researchers studied more than 60,000 men and more than 60,000 women already participating in an American Cancer Society (ACS) study of nutrition and cancer prevention.

The participants were between 50-74 years of age when they enrolled in the study in 1992 and 1993.


Results
By 1997, 421 men and 262 women in the group had developed colorectal cancer. Researchers found that people who received calcium primarily from food did not have a lower risk of developing colon cancer than people who did not take supplements. Risk started to decrease with as little as 700 mg of total calcium per day and taking more than 1200 mg per day did not seem to give any greater protection.

The greatest reduction in risk was seen in people whose calcium came from supplements rather than from diet.