Prediagnostic serum calcium concentrations and risk of colorectal cancer development in 2 large European prospective cohorts
Nena Karavasiloglou, David J. Hughes, Neil Murphy, Lutz Schomburg, Qian Sun, Vartiter Seher, Sabine Rohrmann, Elisabete Weiderpass, Anne Tjønneland, Anja Olsen, Kim Overvad, Marie‐Christine Boutron‐Ruault, Francesca Romana Mancini, Yahya Mahamat‐Saleh, Rudolf Kaaks, Tilman Kühn, Matthias B. Schulze, Rosario Tumino, Salvatore Panico, Giovanna Masala, Valeria Pala, Carlotta Sacerdote, Jeroen W. G. Derksen, Guri Skeie, Anette Hjartåker, Cristina Lasheras, Antonio Agudo, María‐José Sánchez, María‐Dolores Chirlaque, Eva Ardanáz, Pilar Amiano, Bethany Van Guelpen, Björn Gylling, Kathryn E. Bradbury, Keren Papier, Heinz Freisling, Elom K. Aglago, Amanda J. Cross, Elio Ríboli, Dagfinn Aune, Marc J. Gunter, Mazda Jenab
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Higher dietary calcium consumption is associated with lower colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. However, little data are available on the association between circulating calcium concentrations and CRC risk. OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between circulating calcium concentrations and CRC risk using data from 2 large European prospective cohort studies. METHODS: Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate multivariable-adjusted ORs and 95% CIs in case-control studies nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC; n-cases = 947, n-controls = 947) and the UK Biobank (UK-BB; n-cases = 2759, n-controls = 12,021) cohorts. RESULTS: : 0.75; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.88; P-trend < 0.01) but not the rectum. CONCLUSIONS: In UK-BB, higher serum ionized calcium levels were inversely associated with CRC, but the risk was restricted to the colon. Total serum calcium showed a null association in EPIC. Additional prospective studies in other populations are needed to better investigate these associations.