Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and risk of fractures: an updated meta-analysis from the National Osteoporosis Foundation

The aim was to meta-analyze randomized controlled trials of calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and fracture prevention. Meta-analysis showed a significant 15 % reduced risk of total fractures (summary relative risk estimate [SRRE], 0.85; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.98) and a 30 % reduced risk of hip fractures (SRRE, 0.70; 95 % CI, 0.56-0.87).

INTRODUCTION

Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation has been widely recommended to prevent osteoporosis and subsequent fractures; however, considerable controversy exists regarding the association of such supplementation and fracture risk. The aim was to conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [RCTs] of calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and fracture prevention in adults.

METHODS

A PubMed literature search was conducted for the period from July 1, 2011 through July 31, 2015. RCTs reporting the effect of calcium plus vitamin D supplementation on fracture incidence were selected from English-language studies. Qualitative and quantitative information was extracted; random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to generate summary relative risk estimates (SRREs) for total and hip fractures. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q test and the I (2) statistic, and potential for publication bias was assessed.

RESULTS

Of the citations retrieved, eight studies including 30,970 participants met criteria for inclusion in the primary analysis, reporting 195 hip fractures and 2231 total fractures. Meta-analysis of all studies showed that calcium plus vitamin D supplementation produced a statistically significant 15 % reduced risk of total fractures (SRRE, 0.85; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.98) and a 30 % reduced risk of hip fractures (SRRE, 0.70; 95 % CI, 0.56-0.87). Numerous sensitivity and subgroup analyses produced similar summary associations. A limitation is that this study utilized data from subgroup analysis of the Women's Health Initiative.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis of RCTs supports the use of calcium plus vitamin D supplements as an intervention for fracture risk reduction in both community-dwelling and institutionalized middle-aged to older adults.

A self-completed nutrition screening tool for community-dwelling older adults with high reliability: a comparison study

OBJECTIVES

Malnutrition is common in community-dwelling older adults and is associated with poor outcomes including hospitalization and mortality. Recently, a 6-question short form mini nutritional assessment (SF-MNA) was validated for rapid nutrition screening. Ideally, nutrition screening could be performed by individuals or their caregivers prior to or during an outpatient clinical visit, thus allowing for the ongoing monitoring of nutritional status among older adults.

DESIGN

We compared the SF-MNA administered by a healthcare professional (HCP) to a 6-item self-administered screening tool (Self-MNA) in 463 community dwelling older adults who gave informed consent. The population was 60% women with a mean age of 76.8±6.8 years. The HCP was blinded to the results of the Self-MNA questionnaire.

RESULTS

Using the SF-MNA, 27% of subjects were malnourished, 38% were at risk, and 35% had normal nutrition status. The agreement between the Self-MNA and the SF-MNA was 99% (Self-MNA sensitivity 99%, specificity 98%, false negative rate 1%, false positive rate 2%) for identifying Malnourished subjects and 83% (sensitivity 89%, specificity 77%, false negative rate 11%, false positive rate 23%) for identifying At Risk of Malnutrition compared to the MNA-SF administered by a HCP.

CONCLUSION

We found that the Self-MNA demonstrates sufficient inter-rater reliability for use in nutrition screening among community-dwelling older adults. Further validation studies and the possible impact of language translation should be pursued.

Red meat and colorectal cancer: a critical summary of prospective epidemiologic studies

Meat consumption and cancer has been evaluated in hundreds of epidemiologic studies over the past three decades; however, the possible role of this food group on carcinogenesis is equivocal. In this comprehensive review, the currently available epidemiologic prospective studies of red meat intake and colorectal cancer are summarized to provide a greater understanding of any potential relationships. Specifically, salient demographic, methodological and analytical information is synthesized across 35 prospective studies. Collectively, associations between red meat consumption and colorectal cancer are generally weak in magnitude, with most relative risks below 1.50 and not statistically significant, and there is a lack of a clear dose-response trend. Results are variable by anatomic tumour site (colon vs. rectum) and by gender, as the epidemiologic data are not indicative of a positive association among women while most associations are weakly elevated among men. Colinearity between red meat intake and other dietary factors (e.g. Western lifestyle, high intake of refined sugars and alcohol, low intake of fruits, vegetables and fibre) and behavioural factors (e.g. low physical activity, high smoking prevalence, high body mass index) limit the ability to analytically isolate the independent effects of red meat consumption. Because of these factors, the currently available epidemiologic evidence is not sufficient to support an independent positive association between red meat consumption and colorectal cancer.

Occupational trichloroethylene exposure and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a meta-analysis and review

METHODS

Meta-analysis and review of 14 occupational cohort and four case-control studies of workers exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) to investigate the relation between TCE exposure and the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Studies were selected and categorised based on a priori criteria, and results from random effects meta-analyses are presented.

RESULTS

The summary relative risk estimates (SRRE) for the group of cohort studies that had more detailed information on TCE exposure was 1.29 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.66) for the total cohort and 1.59 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.08) for the seven studies that identified a specific TCE exposed sub-cohort. SRREs for three studies with cumulative exposure information were 1.8 (95% CI 0.62 to 5.26) for the lowest exposure category and 1.41 (95% CI 0.61 to 3.23) for the highest category. Comparison of SRREs by levels of TCE exposure did not indicate exposure-response trends. The remaining cohort studies that identified TCE exposure but lacked detailed exposure information had an SRRE of 0.843 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.98). Case-control studies had an SRRE of 1.39 (95% CI 0.62 to 3.10). Statistically significant findings for the Group 1 studies were driven by the results from the subgroup of multiple industry cohort studies (conducted in Europe) (SRRE = 1.86; 95% CI 1.27 to 2.71). The SRRE for single industry cohort studies was not significantly elevated (SRRE = 1.25; 95% CI 0.87 to 1.79).

CONCLUSIONS

Interpretation of overall findings is hampered by variability in results across the Group 1 studies, limited exposure assessments, lack of evidence of exposure response trends, lack of supportive information from toxicological and mechanistic data, and absence of consistent findings in epidemiologic studies of exposure and NHL. Although a modest positive association was found in the TCE sub-cohort analysis, a finding attributable to studies that included workers from multiple industries, there is insufficient evidence to suggest a causal link between TCE exposure and NHL.

Motor neuron degeneration in mice that express a human Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase mutation

Mutations of human Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) are found in about 20 percent of patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Expression of high levels of human SOD containing a substitution of glycine to alanine at position 93--a change that has little effect on enzyme activity--caused motor neuron disease in transgenic mice. The mice became paralyzed in one or more limbs as a result of motor neuron loss from the spinal cord and died by 5 to 6 months of age. The results show that dominant, gain-of-function mutations in SOD contribute to the pathogenesis of familial ALS.

Alprazolam treatment for panic disorders

Office records of 27 private patients who were treated with alprazolam for panic disorders were evaluated by a second psychiatrist. Alprazolam treatment led to a complete remission of panic attacks in 85% of the patients; panics ceased within an average of 6 days, at a mean dose of 2.2 mg/day. In addition, alprazolam was found to bring about a complete absence of phobic avoidance behavior in 21 of the 23 agoraphobic patients in the group. This is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of medication alone as a treatment for agoraphobia.

Comparison for mental retardates of no-choice, initial-choice, and idiosyncratic-choice reward strategies

45 mentally retarded persons (CA about 18 yr.) worked on both a two-choice discrimination task and a perseverance task under one of three reward conditions. An Idiosyncratic-choice condition, which offered trial-to-trial freedom in the selection of rewards, was expected to lead to higher levels of performance than No-choice or Initial-choice conditions. However, no reliable differences in task performance resulted from the employment of the three reward strategies. Sex and IQ predicted a posteriori performance at least as well as condition of reward. The findings are discussed in relation to “reinforcement menu” technique and incentive theory.