Serum calcium concentration and prostate cancer risk: a multicenter study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PC) remains a significant health concern globally.
• The role of serum calcium levels in PC risk is not fully understood.
• Previous research suggests a potential link, but confounding factors require careful consideration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum calcium levels and prostate cancer risk.
• To evaluate the influence of age, body mass index (BMI), and sex hormones as potential modifiers.
• To provide further evidence on calcium's potential protective role in PC.

Main Methods:

• Prospective multicenter study involving 194 PC cases and 317 controls.
• Serum total and ionized calcium levels were measured and categorized into tertiles.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, BMI, lifestyle, and sex hormones.

Main Results:

• Mean serum calcium levels were significantly lower in PC cases (9.22 mg/dl) compared to controls (9.48 mg/dl).
• Higher serum total and ionized calcium concentrations were associated with a significantly decreased risk of PC (OR=0.27 and OR=0.25, respectively).
• Each 1 mg/dl increase in serum calcium correlated with a 48% reduction in PC risk (OR=0.52).

Conclusions:

• Serum calcium concentration shows a significant inverse association with prostate cancer risk.
• Calcium may play a protective role against the development of prostate cancer.
• No evidence suggests that age, BMI, or sex hormones modify the calcium-PC risk relationship.