Only about five years ago, every patient of mine who finished chemotherapy was given a vitamin cocktail to further reduce colon cancer risk. It was calcium, selenium, vitamin E and folic acid.
Over the last three years, folic acid has been shown to increase growth of polyps, and in patients with metastatic disease it may shorten life. The protective value of vitamin E has been questioned, and there was evidence that it might increase prostate cancer risk. Selenium did not show benefit.
So we are down to calcium. This supplement has been shown repeatedly to benefit patients by reducing cancer risk for a variety of solid tumors including colon cancer. A recent publication by Dr. Yikyung Park from the National Cancer Institute showed that supplementation of 1200 mg calcium in women and men over the age of 50 decreased cancer risk by 17% for men and 23% for women (Archives of Internal Medicine, February 23, 2009). These were cancers of the gastrointestinal tract mainly colon cancers.
The usual source for calcium in our diet is milk products (yogurt, cheese, etc) as well as meat. The calcium pathway is very interesting because it requires activity of vitamin D. Without vitamin D it is difficult to absorb calcium and put it into the organs where we need it, but to make sure we have sufficient vitamin D we need some sun exposure (vitamin D is activated in the skin) and we need a functional kidney.
When vitamin D was tested in patients with colon cancer it was found by Dr. Charles Fuchs in the Journal of Clinical Oncology published in June last year that the patients with the highest vitamin D levels lived longer suggesting that low levels may be associated with shorter survival. Since there are very rare side effects from either vitamin D or calcium supplementation, I recommend all my patients take 1500 mg of calcium and 1000-3000 units of vitamin D daily.
I have one funny story from one of my patients giving him the spiel of calcium supplementation which he loved and started right away. About three months later he was admitted with kidney stones. He had inflammatory bowel disease which has higher risk of kidney stones which was further aggravated by calcium supplementation. Therefore if you have a history of kidney stones or inflammatory bowel disease please check with your doctor first before starting calcium supplements.
May 14, 2009 at 6:38 pm, Edward said:
I am 65 and a stage III colon cancer survivor with an enlarged prostate. Will excessive intake of calcium increase the risk of developing prostate cancer? If so, what is the best strategy?
May 14, 2009 at 7:05 pm, heinz josef lenz said:
not aware of the connection of calcium and prostate cancer. it should not there was with vitamine E
May 14, 2009 at 9:10 pm, Kathleen said:
Dr. Lenz,
Do you recommend that patients who are currently on Folfox 6 and have the calcium and magnesium before and after infusion take the additional 1500mg of calcium and 1000 – 3000 units of Vit D daily?
Thank you.
Kathleen
May 14, 2009 at 11:22 pm, Susan said:
Dr. Lenz,
Is it possible to get adequate Vitamin D, only through sun expose? If so, how much time per day in the sun?
Thank you!
May 17, 2009 at 3:09 pm, Regina said:
I’m currently receiving Folfox 5 which includes folic acid. Is this putting me at risk?
May 17, 2009 at 4:32 pm, heinz josef lenz said:
sorry was on the lecture tour in tel aviv and melbourne just returned home, yes recommend calcium and vit d supplementation for ptaeints treated with FOLFOX, sun exposure is not recommended since chemo increases your sensitivity to sun so dont do sun bathing
and no the folic acid in combination wiht 5-FU increases the efficacy of 5-FU……HJL
May 19, 2009 at 3:28 pm, Corinne said:
Is choline in egg whites or in the yolks? Would someone who has Lynch Syndrome be best advised not to consume egg whites or egg yolks?
May 21, 2009 at 9:44 am, Heinz-Josef Lenz said:
you can eat eggs……..HJL
June 18, 2009 at 8:18 pm, Dan said:
Dr. Lenz,
Have there been any studies done testing the affect of resveratrol on preventing a recurrence of colon cancer?
thanks for your time.
June 18, 2009 at 8:34 pm, Heinz Josef Lenz said:
not that i am aware off, but as you know resveratrol is the substance in red wine suspected for the benefit of red wine. However when i tried it in treating of colon cancer cells it made it more resistant to chemo in the dish, it still could work in prevention. DSMO is at the moment the most promising drug. HJL