Calcium supplements decrease the risk of colorectal adenomas 5 years after treatment ends, according to study results published in the January 17 JNCI. Dr. John A. Baron of Dartmouth Medical School and colleagues followed participants of the Calcium Polyp Prevention Study, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of calcium supplements for subjects with a previous colorectal adenoma from 1988 to 1992. Researchers sent participants annual follow-up questionnaires that addressed medical events, including colonoscopies, as well as use of medication, vitamins, and dietary supplements. They obtained posttreatment information from 1999 to 2003 for 822 of the original 930 subjects. Both the calcium treatment group and the placebo group had a similar number of colonoscopies, time to first and last colonoscopy, and use of calcium supplements after treatment ended. However, during the 5 years after treatment, those participants in the calcium treatment group had a significantly lower risk of all adenomas than those in the placebo group (31.5 percent vs. 43.2 percent). The researchers wrote, "The persistence of the effect is a provocative finding, but one that is difficult to explain. It suggests that a 4-year course of calcium treatment alters the colorectal mucosa in such a way that it can resist the development of new adenomas that would otherwise become apparent several years later." As for potential avenues of future research, Drs. Maria Elena Martinez and Elizabeth T. Jacobs of the Arizona Cancer Center wrote in an accompanying editorial that "individuals with lower rather than higher nutrient intakes are likely to benefit the most from supplementation and…those who have already exceeded the threshold of prevention may experience no added protection. Additionally, trials of adenoma recurrence should consider combinations of calcium and other agents." Calcium & Vit D May Reduce Risk of Adenoma Recurrence J Nutr, 2/05 Chemoprevent Colon Ca:Calcium, Vit D & Folate Nature Reviews Cancer, 8/03 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.