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 a day and taking more than 1200 mg a day did not seem to give any greater protection. The greatest reduction in risk was seen in people whose calcium came primarily from supplements rather than from diet.