Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/10954
Title: Evidence that calcium supplements reduce fracture risk is lacking.
Austin Authors: Seeman, Ego 
Affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Centaur Building, Repatriation Campus, Austin Health, Heidelberg 3081, Melbourne, Australia
Issue Date: 1-Jan-2010
Publication information: Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : Cjasn; 5 Suppl 1(): S3-11
Abstract: Credible evidence that calcium supplements reduce the risk of vertebral, nonvertebral, or hip fractures is lacking. Flaws in study design and execution such as inclusion of calcium-replete individuals, high dropout rates, and poor compliance preclude testing the hypothesis that calcium deficiency increases fracture rates or that calcium supplements reduce them. Intent-to-treat analyses of individual trials have failed to detect antifracture efficacy. Post hoc analyses of subgroups with a low calcium intake and per-protocol analyses of compliers have reported fewer fractures in the supplemented groups. However, this may be the result of confounding by violation of randomization; compliers to placebo have a lower morbidity and mortality than noncompliers. Higher hip fracture rates and cardiac mortality in patients receiving calcium supplements, as reported in some studies, may also be due to factors other than supplementation. Hypothesis testing requires that a cohort be stratified into calcium-deficient and calcium-replete groups, with each person randomized to a supplement or placebo. This design quantifies the risk of fracture attributable to calcium deficiency and any benefit that supplementation confers in the calcium-deficient and calcium-replete groups. To regard a calcium-deficient arm as unethical begs the question. Consensus statements that support the widespread use of calcium are opinion-based; they accept claims of beneficial effects despite flaws in study design, execution, and analysis; and they reject reported adverse effects because of them. Until well designed, well executed, and well analyzed studies demonstrate a net benefit in morbidity, mortality, and cost, recommendations supporting the widespread use of calcium supplementation remain belief-based and not evidence-based.
Gov't Doc #: 20089500
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/10954
DOI: 10.2215/CJN.06160809
Journal: Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20089500
Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Bone Density.drug effects
Bone Remodeling.drug effects
Calcium.adverse effects.deficiency.therapeutic use
Calcium, Dietary.metabolism
Clinical Trials as Topic
Dietary Supplements.adverse effects
Evidence-Based Medicine
Fractures, Bone.etiology.metabolism.physiopathology.prevention & control
Humans
Nutrition Policy
Patient Compliance
Research Design
Risk Assessment
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

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