NEJM Journal Watch Podcasts: Clinical Conversations

Podcast 187: Colorectal adenomas not prevented by calcium and/or vitamin D

10.25.2015 - By NEJM GroupPlay

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We interview John Baron about his recent New England Journal of Medicine study testing the ability of calcium or vitamin D (or both) to prevent recurrences of colorectal adenomas in a population who had lesions found during colonoscopy. On follow-up after three to five years, the effects of daily calcium and/or vitamin D supplements were the same as for placebo — that is, there was no significant reduction in risk.

The results were surprising, since the same author found a protective effect for calcium in a 1999 publication in NEJM. (In that study, vitamin D wasn’t tested.)

LINKS:

New England Journal of Medicine study (free abstract)

Physician’s First Watch coverage (free)

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