Calcium and Colorectal Cancer

Julian Whitaker, MD

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed every year. It is the third most common and second deadliest type of cancer in this country. However, researchers at Dartmouth have uncovered a groundbreaking treatment—calcium supplementation can actually reduce the growth of colon polyps. That’s right; this bone-strengthening mineral could be the key to treating these precancerous growths.

The study focused on 913 patients with diagnosed polyps who were given either 1,200 mg of calcium carbonate or a placebo. Repeated colonoscopies after one and four years revealed that participants who took calcium had a decreased risk of all types of colon polyps. The most profound effect was on advanced polyps—calcium users had one-third the risk of those taking placebo. Calcium supplementation is no longer an option, it’s a necessity for strong bones, cancer prevention, and overall health.

Reference

• J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004 Jun 16;96(12):921-5.

Modified from Health & Healing with permission from Healthy Directions, LLC. Photocopying, reproduction, or quotation strictly prohibited without written permission from the publisher. To subscribe to Health & Healing, click here.