Calcium Supplements for the Prevention of Colorectal Adenomas

Abstract

ast one adenoma was diagnosed between the first and second follow-up endoscopies in 127 subjects in the calcium group (31 percent) and 159 subjects in the placebo group (38 percent); the adjusted risk ratio was 0.81 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.67 to 0.99; P=0.04). The adjusted ratio of the average number of adenomas in the calcium group to that in the placebo group was 0.76 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.60 to 0.96; P=0.02). The effect of calcium was independ- ent of initial dietary fat and calcium intake. Conclusions Calcium supplementation is associat- ed with a significant — though moderate — reduction in the risk of recurrent colorectal adenomas. (N Engl J Med 1999;340:101-7.)