Lee Swanson Research Update

Calcium Prevents Pre-cancerous Polyps

November 2004

calcium

Taking calcium may help to protect patients from developing advanced colorectal adenomas, a type of polyp that is strongly associated with invasive colorectal cancer. Prior research had indicated that calcium reduces the risk of developing all types of colon polyps. Now a recent study not only supports this but also shows that the supplement offers the greatest protection against the advanced type of polyp.

Each of the 930 subjects in the study had at least one polyp removed surgically within months before entering the study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group took 1,200 mg of calcium per day and the other group took a placebo.

Colonoscopies were performed at baseline and at one year and four years; with 913 participants having at least the first follow-up colonoscopy. Among the participants who had the follow-up examinations, 30.6% had at least one hyperplastic polyp and 41.8% had at least one tubular polyp. (Hyperplastic polyps do not become malignant and tubular ones have low potential for becoming malignant). The researchers found advanced adenomas in 12.3% of the subjects and 6% were found to have large adenomas.

Calcium supplementation was associated with a decrease in development of all types of polyps but the protection was greatest against advanced adenomous polyps. This effect was strongest in patients who consumed high fiber and low fat diets but the dietary relationship was not statistically significant.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute 96(12):893-894, 2004

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