Calcium Lowers Colon Polyp Formation Up to 5 Yrs
(NY, Reuters Health, 1/16/07)

In the Calcium Polyp Prevention Study, Dr. John A. Baron of Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and colleagues, had demonstrated that taking a daily calcium supplement reduced the risk of recurrence of colorectal adenomas in patients with a history of this pre-cancerous condition. Now Baron’s team has reviewed data for 597 of the participants, who had at least one colonoscopy after the end of the study.  In the current Calcium Follow-up Study, the investigators found that calcium supplementation had a long-term beneficial effect. The risk of polyp recurrence remained lower for up to 5 years after supplementation ended for subjects who had taken calcium for 4 years. Experimental evidence suggests that calcium may reduce the risk of colorectal adenomas both by inhibiting the formation of colon cells and by interacting with bile acids to keep potential carcinogens from contacting the colon’s mucosal lining.

(Journal of the National Cancer Institute, January 17, 2007)