Physicians commonly recommend calcium supplements for men to reduce the risk of bone-related diseases. However, increased intake of calcium may increase your risk of prostate disease. The PSA test is common in men over 50 to test the health of the prostate gland. Consult your doctor about your use of calcium supplements and PSA.
Calcium
Calcium is a mineral that your body needs to build and maintain strong bones and teeth. A calcium deficiency increases your risk of fractures and of bone-related diseases, including osteoporosis, a condition characterized by loss of bone. Calcium is found in high concentrations in milk and dairy products, almonds and green leafy vegetables. Calcium is also available in dietary supplements. The recommended daily calcium intake is 1,000 milligrams for adults between the ages of 19 and 50, and 1,200 milligrams for those 51 and older.
PSA
Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by the prostate cells. Physicians usually recommend a PSA blood test for men 50 and older to determine the risk of prostate cancer, and they also use the test to monitor patients with a history of prostate cancer to see if the condition recurs. The higher your blood PSA levels, the higher the risk that you have prostate cancer. High PSA levels are also associated with benign prostate enlargement and inflammation and infection of the prostate gland.
Calcium and PSA Levels
Increased blood levels of calcium may increase your risk of higher blood levels of PSA. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin in Madison found that blood serum levels of calcium are correlated with blood levels of PSA, according to research published in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention" in November 2009. The researchers conclude that the results support the premise that blood levels of calcium stimulate prostate growth, and that the PSA test can be used as a screening tool for prostate cancer.
Calcium Levels and Prostate Cancer
Increased dietary intake of calcium from food or supplements may increase your blood levels of calcium, which in turn may elevate your risk of prostate cancer. The same researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that the higher the blood levels of calcium, the higher the risk of fatal prostate cancer, according to an article published in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention" in September 2008. Although there are no studies specifically on the association between calcium supplements and prostate cancer, there are studies demonstrating that calcium-rich foods, such as dairy, increase the risk of prostate cancer. Scientists at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan found that increased consumption of milk and dairy increases the risk of prostate cancer, according to research published in "Prostate” in July 2010.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Calcium and Bone Health
- NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center: What Is Osteoporosis?
- National Cancer Institute: Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test
- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention"; The Relation of Serum Parathyroid Hormone and Serum Calcium to Serum Levels of Prostate-Specific Antigen: A Population-Based Study; H.G. Skinner and G.G. Schwartz
- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention"; Serum Calcium and Incident and Fatal Prostate Cancer in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; H.G. Skinner and G.G. Schwartz
- "Prostate"; Diet and Prostate Cancer Risk with Specific Focus on Dairy Products and Dietary Calcium: A Case-Control Study; S. Raimondi et al.
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