Again, a new study puts the spotlight on magnesium, an
often-overlooked mineral that's now getting noticed for health
benefits ranging from diabetes to stroke prevention.
In the latest research, British and Dutch scientists compared
dietary magnesium intake among 768 patients with colorectal adenomas
(polyps) and 709 healthy control subjects.
For every 100
mg increase in magnesium from foods (about the amount in a cup of
beans, nuts or 2 potatoes), the risk of cancer decreased 19%.
That association was limited, however, to people with a BMI of 25 or
over, those who were at least 55 years old,
and advanced adenomas.
The scientists
also analyzed data from 9 previous studies. In that review, every
additional 100 mg of magnesium from the diet per day was linked to a
12% lower risk of colorectal cancer and a 13% decrease in the risk
of colon polyps.
Source:
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
