Calcium Benefits

Higher Daily Calcium Intake
Associated With Lower Cancer Risk
Valuable New Cancer Prevention Strategy...


Women with higher intake of Calcium appear to have a lower risk of cancer overall, and both men and women with high Calcium intakes have lower risks of colorectal cancer and other cancers of the digestive system, according to a new report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA / Archives journals.

Calcium is known to benefit bone health and the Institute of Medicine recommends at least 1,200 milligrams of Calcium for adults age 50 and older; The 2005 dietary guidelines for Americans recommend 3 cups per day of low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Ongoing studies of dairy products, calcium intake and cancer have revealed the value of Calcium in helping prevent cancer and specific results for different cancer sites.

A team of researchers at the National Cancer Ins titute, Bethesda, Maryland analyzed data from 293,907 men and 198,903 women who participated in the "National Institutes of Health - AARP Diet and Health Study." The participants took a food frequency questionnaire when they enrolled in the study (between 1995 and 1996) reporting how much and how often they consumed dairy and a wide variety of other foods and whether they took supplements. Their records were then linked with state cancer registries to identify new cases of cancer through 2003.

In both men and women, Calcium-rich dairy food and overall Calcium intakes were inversely associated with cancers of the digestive system. The one-fifth of men who consumed the most Calcium through daily food and supplement intakes (over 1,500 milligrams per day) had a 16 percent lower risk of these types of cancer than the one-fifth who consumed the least (526 milligrams per day).

For women, those in the top one-fifth of daily Calcium consumption (over 1,800 milligrams per day) had a 23 percent lower risk than those in the bottom one-fifth (494 milligrams per day). The decreased risk was particu larly pronounced for colorectal cancer.

Dairy food, which is known to be relatively high in potentially anti-carcinogenic nutrients such as Calcium, Vitamin D and C.L.A. (conjugated linoleic acid) is believed to protect against the development of colorectal and breast cancer. Calcium has been shown to reduce abnormal growth and induce normal turnover among cells in the gastrointestinal tract and breast. In addition, it binds to bile and fatty acids, potentially reducing damage to the mucous membrane in the large intestine.
 
In conclusion, the study's findings suggest that adequate Calcium intake consistent with current recommendations is associated with a lower risk of total cancer in women and cancers of the digestive system, especially colorectal cancer, in both men and women.

The study was funded by the Intramural Research Program of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.