Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

This is an inherited disorder that develops in the colon. Hundreds and thousands of polyps (which are abnormal tissue growths) accumulate and when untreated can cause colon cancer. The development of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis can start in the teenage years, while its projection to colon cancer usually does not start until about 35 years of age. Symptoms include fatigue, abdominal pain, colonic bleeding, bloating, and diarrhoea but not all with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis will experience them. It is very important for those who have someone in the family with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis to be tested regularly and as early as possible.

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Vitamin D [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Observational studies show that a higher intake of Vitamin D may help lower the risk of getting Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. However, clinical trials need to be completed to provide more reliable evidence.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Calcium Gluconate:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: strongly in favor (Calcium supplements are effective in preventing Familial Adenomatous Polyposis)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Calcium Supplements:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: strongly in favor (Calcium supplements are effective in preventing Familial Adenomatous Polyposis)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/vitamin-d

2. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD006164/frame.html

3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10824056

4. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcb.10338/abstract

5. http://pain-topics.org/pdf/vitamind-report.pdf

6. http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1185/030079908X253519

7. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article756975.ece

8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17556697

9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18065602

10. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamind.html

Public Discussion