Reply to C.D. Atkins and A. Avan et al

摘要

It is our pleasure to respond to the two letters written with regard to our recently published article. First, Atkins asks how we are to reconcile the contradictory results of the two trials that were conducted by our group. The two trials differ substantially in sample size and duration of calcium and magnesium (CaMg) therapy. Because of external factors, the first trial had to be stopped early so that reliable data were only available for four cycles of therapy. Thus, the results from the first trial were not fully convincing and, as mentioned in our first article, required confirmation by a subsequent trial once it became apparent that CaMg was safe to give. We consider the results of the second larger trial as definitive. In addition, this latter trial is supported by other smaller, randomized, placebo-controlled trials.