Calcium helps prevent colon cancer

Commonly used to prevent osteoporosis, calcium supplements may also help protect against the development of precancerous polyps in the colon, according to new research. In the study, researchers found that long-term use of calcium supplements reduced the formation of colon polyps by 36 percent; additionally, even when supplementation was stopped, the protective effect lasted for years. This is the second major study finding that calcium can help prevent colon polyps.