Journal Article

Calcium plus Vitamin D Supplementation and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Beresford, Shirley A.A, Jackson, Rebecca D, Wactawski-Wende, Jean, Wallace, Robert B, Sarto, Gloria E, Heiss, Gerardo, Kotchen, Jane Morley, Hays, Jennifer, O'Sullivan, Mary Jo, Brzyski, Robert G, Gass, Margery, Anderson, Garnet L, Kooperberg, Charles L, Manson, JoAnn E, Pottern, Linda, Whitlock, Evelyn, Black, Henry R, Bonds, Denise E, Brunner, Robert L, Margolis, Karen L, Phillips, Lawrence, Kuller, Lewis H, Rohan, Thomas E, Lasser, Norman L, Sharma, Santosh, Van Horn, Linda, Howard, Barbara V, Garland, Cedric, Chlebowski, Rowan T, Lane, Dorothy S, Langer, Robert D, Robbins, John, Bassford, Tamsen, Judd, Howard, Lewis, Cora E, Hendrix, Susan L, Hubbell, F. Allan, Ockene, Judith K, Prentice, Ross L, Hsia, Judith, LaCroix, Andrea Z, Assaf, Annlouise R, Cochrane, Barbara, Limacher, Marian C, Stefanick, Marcia L, Johnson, Karen C, Caan, Bette

2006

Overview

Supplemental calcium and vitamin D have been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in epidemiologic and polyp-prevention studies, but evidence from randomized trials was lacking. Although the long latency involved in colorectal cancer may be relevant, this Women's Health Initiative trial involving 36,282 postmenopausal women showed that daily calcium plus vitamin D supplementation for an average of seven years had no effect on the incidence of colorectal cancer. Although the long latency involved in colorectal cancer may be relevant, this trial involving postmenopausal women showed that daily calcium plus vitamin D supplementation for an average of seven years had no effect on the incidence of colorectal cancer. As the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States, 1 colorectal cancer is the focus of considerable preventive effort. 2 Most observational studies have associated increased calcium and vitamin D intake with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer 3 – 6 and recurrent polyps. 7 , 8 Although the results are somewhat mixed, one pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies that assessed dietary consumption and total calcium intake (diet plus supplements) reported a reduction in the incidence of colorectal cancer of 10 to 15 percent, 9 whereas an earlier pooled analysis found no effect. 10 The suggestion that increased calcium intake helped prevent colorectal . . .

• Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
• Subject: Adenocarcinoma - epidemiology / Adenocarcinoma - prevention & control / Aged / Biological and medical sciences / Bone density / Calcium - therapeutic use / Calcium Carbonate - adverse effects / Calcium Carbonate - pharmacology / Calcium Carbonate - therapeutic use / Colonic Polyps - epidemiology / Colorectal cancer / Colorectal Neoplasms - epidemiology / Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology / Colorectal Neoplasms - prevention & control / Consent / Double-Blind Method / Drug Combinations / Endocrine therapy / Female / Follow-Up Studies / Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen / General aspects / Humans / Incidence / Medical sciences / Middle Aged / Older people / Postmenopause / Proportional Hazards Models / Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus / Tumors / Vitamin D / Vitamin D - adverse effects / Vitamin D - blood / Vitamin D - pharmacology / Vitamin D - therapeutic use / Womens health