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Baseline characteristics of participants in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL): Effects on Bone Structure and Architecture

Donlon CM, LeBoff MS, Chou SH, Cook NR, Copeland T, Buring JE, Bubes V, Kotler G et al.

Contemporary clinical trials, 2018

771 participants

Abstract

UNLABELLED: Vitamin D supplements are often used to benefit skeletal health, although data on effects of daily high-dose vitamin D alone on bone density and structure are lacking. The ongoing VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial testing effects of high-dose supplemental vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol; 2000 IU/day) and/or omega-3 fatty acids (FAs; 1 g/day) for the primary prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The study has a mean treatment period of 5 years among 25,874 U.S. men ≥50 years and women ≥55 years old from all 50 states. The ancillary study, VITAL: Effects on Bone Structure and Architecture, is testing effects of vitamin D3 and/or omega-3 FAs on musculoskeletal outcomes and body composition in a subcohort of 771 participants. At in-person visits at the Harvard Catalyst Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC), participants completed bone density/architecture, body composition, and physical performance assessments at baseline and two-year follow-up. Baseline characteristics were evenly distributed among treatment groups, suggesting that any uninvestigated confounders will be evenly distributed; sex differences were also analyzed. Future analyses of the two-year follow-up visits will elucidate whether daily high-dose, supplemental vitamin D3 and/or omega-3 FAs improve musculoskeletal outcomes, helping to advance clinical and public health recommendations.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 771 participants or records.

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