The U.S. Surgeon General recommends we consume adequate amounts of Calcium and Vitamin D to help prevent Osteoporosis. New scientific data now reveals that this same important mineral may also significantly promote Colon Health! Mason offers Calcium supplements in a variety of high-quality formulations to suit your needs. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in the U.S. and the third most common malignancy in US women. Much research is being done on the prevention of colon polyps, which is thought to be the first step in the development of colon and rectal cancer. A large study by Dr. J. Baron revealed that calcium supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of recurrent colon and rectal polyps. This study used 1200 milligrams of calcium over a four-year period and found a 15% reduction in polyp recurrence. This reduction was seen within the first year of the study.
In a second well controlled intervention study, Dr. Baron found reason for continued optimism regarding calcium and colon cancer prevention. In this study, 803 men and women who had a prior colon polyp were given calcium (1200 milligrams) or placebo and followed for 4 years. The investigators measured levels of vitamin D in the study participants and found that the benefit of calcium on polyp prevention was seen in individuals with higher levels of vitamin D.
In a new survey study by the American Cancer Society, they found an association between higher calcium intake and a lower risk of colon cancer for both men and women, while vitamin D might help cut risk in men. The association was strongest in people who took supplements, rather than getting these nutrients from foods. McCullough and her colleagues studied more than 60,000 men and more than 66,000 women who were already participating in an American Cancer Society study of nutrition and cancer prevention. The participants were all between 50 and 74-years old when they enrolled in the study in 1992 and 1993. People who took calcium supplements had about a 30% lower risk of developing colon cancer than people who did not take supplements.