Prospective cohort study of calcium intake and risk of colorectal cancer

Calcium intake is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), although it remains unclear whether this association varies by calcium source or tumor site. Moreovere, there are disparities in calcium intake by race and ethnicity, but the impact of low calcium consumption on CRC risk in specific racial and ethnic populations is unclear. Twenty year follow-up of the prospective NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, with 471,396 healthy adults with baseline age 50 to 71 years, found an association between higher calcium intake and lower colorectal cancer risk, overall and by tumor site, and regardless of the source of calcium (dairy or nondairy foods or supplements). The authors conclude that increasing calcium intake, particularly among population subgroups with lower intakes, may be associated with reductions in avoidable differences in CRC risk.