Intake of Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphorus and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial

Abstract

Few epidemiological studies have investigated the associations between calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus intake and pancreatic cancer. We examined these associations in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Diet was assessed using the Dietary Questionnaire (DQX) at baseline in the intervention arm and the Dietary History Questionnaire (DHQ) in 1999 or around the third anniversary of randomization in both the intervention and control arms. During a median follow-up of 12.2 years, 279 cases of pancreatic cancer occurred from 58,477 participants who completed DQX; 380 cases arose from 101,622 participants who responded to DHQ over a median follow-up of 8.9 years. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Total calcium intake was inversely associated with pancreatic cancer [HR (95% CI) for the fourth vs. the first quartiles in the DHQ cohort: 0.67 (0.47, 0.96); p-trend: 0.035]. An inverse association was also observed for total magnesium intake [HR (95% CI) for the fourth vs. the first quartiles in the DQX cohort: 0.61 (0.37, 1.00); p-trend: 0.023]. Reduced risk associated with total calcium intake was confined to subjects with a high fat intake (>73 g/day) in the DHQ cohort (p-interaction: 0.16). There was not a significant association between dietary phosphorus intake and pancreatic cancer risk in both cohorts. Total intake of calcium and magnesium are associated with a lower pancreatic cancer risk. The effect of total calcium intake was modified by fat intake.

Investigating Causal Associations of Circulating Micronutrients Concentrations with the Risk of Lung Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Study

“…We obtained the initial catalogue by searching Pubmed ( (accessed on 1 August 2022)) for published observational studies or meta-analyses of micronutrients related to LC. The preliminary catalogue includes 20 nutrients: beta carotene, calcium, copper, folate, iron, lycopene, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, retinol, sodium, selenium, zinc, and vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, and E [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. We exclude iron and vitamins C, D, E, and B12 because the causal relationship between these circulating nutrient concentrations and LC risk has been thoroughly analyzed [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

Can a Low-Phosphate Diet for Chronic Kidney Disease Treat Cancer? An Interdisciplinary Literature Review

“…In contrast to the above findings, a recent analysis of data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial found that dietary phosphorus was not significantly associated with risk of pancreatic cancer in adults [38]. The study examined associations of pancreatic cancer with daily recommended dietary allowances for calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus (700 mg phosphorus [39]) compared to deficient intake of these nutrients.…”

On the Menu: Analyzing the Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Beverages, Dietary Patterns, and Pancreatic Cancer Risk

“…Some studies have reported a modest inverse association, suggesting that higher calcium intake or blood levels may be associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer. Recently, the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening trial analyzed the relationship between calcium and the risk of pancreatic cancer, but the association was restricted to those with a high fat intake [ 41 ].…”