Role of supplemental calcium in the recurrence of colorectal adenomas: a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
Colorectal adenomas are neoplastic growths that are important targets for chemoprevention. Dietary calcium is thought to play an important role in chemoprevention. However, the role of calcium supplementation for preventing recurrence of adenomas is controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to study the role of calcium supplementation in preventing recurrence of adenomas.


METHODS
We searched electronic bibliographic databases (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE) and contacted authors to identify potentially eligible studies.


RESULTS
We identified three trials including 1,485 subjects with previously removed adenomas who were randomized to calcium versus placebo supplementation. The study endpoint was recurrence of adenomas at the end of 3-4 yr in 1,279 patients who completed the trials. We found that the recurrence of adenomas was significantly lower in subjects randomized to calcium supplementation (RR: 0.80, CI: 0.68, 0.93; p-value = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that calcium supplementation prevents recurrent colorectal adenomas.
Shaukat
Aasma
A
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York, 462 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA.
Scouras
Nicole
N
Schünemann
Holger J
HJ
D000236:Adenoma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D002118:Calcium