Men with high blood levels of calcium have a significantly increased risk of developing fatal prostate cancer, new research suggests.

The study of nearly three thousand men revealed that those with the highest levels of calcium in their blood were 2.68 times more likely to develop fatal prostate cancer than men with the lowest levels of calcium. The association remained even after the researchers took into consideration major risk factors for prostate cancer – age, weight, race, and family history. Blood calcium levels did not have a predictive effect upon non-fatal prostate cancers.

The data on blood calcium levels was determined an average of 9.9 years before the diagnosis of prostate cancer was made, thus suggesting that a simple blood test may identify men that are at high risk of developing the disease.

At present it is unclear whether it is calcium itself or parathyroid hormone, which regulates blood calcium levels, that plays a role in the pathology of the disease.

Skinner HG, Schwartz GG. Serum Calcium and Incident and Fatal Prostate Cancer in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008;17:2302-2305.