Associations between Intake of Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphorus and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: A Population-Based, Case-Control Study in Minnesota

Abstract

Experimental studies suggest that abnormal levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus are implicated in pancreatic carcinogenesis. We investigated the associations between intakes of these minerals and the risk of pancreatic cancer in a case-control study conducted in 1994-1998. Cases of pancreatic cancer (n150) were recruited from all hospitals in the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities and Mayo Clinic, Minnesota. Controls (n459) were randomly selected from the general population and frequency matched to cases by age, sex, and race. All dietary variables were adjusted for energy intake using the residual method prior to data analysis. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the associations between intake of three nutrients examined and the risk of pancreatic cancer. Total intake of calcium (936 vs. 1026 mg/day) and dietary intake of magnesium (315 vs. 331 mg/day) and phosphorus (1350 vs. 1402 mg/day) were significantly lower in cases than in controls. After adjustment for confounders, there were not significant associations of total and dietary intakes of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus with the risk of pancreatic cancer. In addition, no significant interactions exist between intakes of these minerals and total fat on pancreatic cancer risk. In conclusion, the present study does not suggest that intakes of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus were significantly associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer.