Magnesium Supplementation Promotes Vitamin D-Producing Gut Bacteria to Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk

Recent research conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center has uncovered promising evidence that magnesium supplements may play a pivotal role in colorectal cancer prevention. In a carefully designed, precision-based clinical trial, scientists found that magnesium intake increases specific gut bacteria known to produce vitamin D locally in the intestines. This microbial boost could inhibit the development of colorectal carcinogenesis.

The study demonstrated that in participants who received magnesium supplements, levels of beneficial bacteria such as Carnobacterium maltaromaticum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii increased, especially among individuals with fully functioning TRPM7 genes, which regulate magnesium and calcium uptake. These bacteria actively synthesize vitamin D within the gut environment, providing a local defense mechanism against cancer formation. Interestingly, the effect was more pronounced in women, likely due to the influence of estrogen on magnesium distribution within cells.

Participants in the trial included 236 individuals with a history of colorectal polyps. After about 3.5 years, those with higher levels of F. prausnitzii in their rectal mucosa were more likely to develop additional polyps, suggesting a complex relationship between specific gut microbes and cancer risk. The findings underscore the potential of magnesium supplementation as a targeted strategy to modulate the gut microbiome and lower colorectal cancer risk in genetically susceptible populations.

Previously, the same research team showed that magnesium could enhance systemic vitamin D levels, especially in those with deficiency. The current findings expand on this by revealing that magnesium also promotes the local production of vitamin D in the gut, which is critical for immune regulation and carcinogenesis suppression.

This research highlights the importance of personalized nutrition approaches, considering genetic factors such as TRPM7 functionality, to optimize colorectal cancer prevention. The study’s results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and suggest a new avenue for non-invasive, microbiome-based interventions.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-magnesium-inhibits-colorectal-cancer-carcinogenesis.html