Study researchers were surprised while doing a study that calcium, which is known to prevent cancer, was not helping in curbing the growth of colon polyps. As per the researchers, neither calcium nor vitamin D may curb the risk of colon cancer after colonoscopy has been performed.

Study’s lead researcher Dr. John Baron from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine said that it was no less than a shock to find that calcium and vitamin D have not worked in removing polyps.

The study was carried on around 2,260 people aged between 45 and 75 at 11 medical centers. Participants were asked to follow one of four regimens including 1,000 IU of vitamin D3; 1,200 mg of calcium; both of them and placebo.

Participants were followed for three to five years and it was found that 43 to 45% of all study participants had developed a poly despite the fact that they have taken calcium, vitamin D, both or neither.

Dr. Baron was of the view, “We can say with some confidence that at this (1,000 IU) dose, which is a very commonly used dose now, vitamin D does not affect colorectal carcinogenesis. The calcium story is somewhat more complicated given the strength of the previous evidence”.

The researchers said that it is not known for now that if by having larger doses of vitamin D or increasing the total time of supplementation will help provide protections against colorectal polyp recurrence and colorectal cancer.