Epidemiology

British Journal of Cancer (2007) 96, 510–513. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603577 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 6 February 2007

Magnesium intake and colorectal cancer risk in the Netherlands Cohort Study

P A van den Brandt1, K M Smits1, R A Goldbohm2 and M P Weijenberg1

  1. 1Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
  2. 2TNO Nutrition and Food Research, PO Box 360, 3700 AJ Zeist, The Netherlands

Correspondence: Dr PA van den Brandt, E-mail: PA.vandenBrandt@epid.unimaas.nl

Received 31 October 2006; Revised 7 December 2006; Accepted 11 December 2006.

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Abstract

Energy-adjusted magnesium intake was nonsignificantly inversely related to risk of colorectal cancer (n=2328) in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer that started in 1986 (n=58 279 men and 62 573 women). Statistically significant inverse trends in risk were observed in overweight subjects for colon and proximal colon cancer across increasing quintiles of magnesium uptake (P-trend, 0.05 and 0.02, respectively). Although an overall protective effect was not afforded, our results suggest an effect of magnesium in overweight subjects, possibly through decreasing insulin resistance.

Keywords:

colorectal cancer, cohort studies, magnesium, BMI