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Clinical Summary

Vitamin D and omega-3 supplements may not prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer

Takeaway

  • Vitamin D (at a dose of 2000 IU/day) and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation did not reduce the risk for major cardiovascular events and invasive cancer.

Why this matters

  • Data from large randomised trials on effects of vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation in the primary prevention cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer is limited.

Study design

  • Study enrolled 25,871 participants (including 5106 black participants).
  • All participants randomly assigned to receive vitamin D (2000 IU/day; n=12,927), omega-3 fatty acid (1 g/day fish-oil capsule with 840 mg of omega-3 fatty acid; n=12,933) and placebo (n=12,944 for vitamin D and n=12,938 for omega 3).
  • Primary endpoints: major CV events (a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke or death from any cause) and invasive cancer.
  • Secondary endpoints: specific CVD and cancers.
  • Funding: National Institutes of Health. 

Key results

  • During median follow-up of 5.3 years, compared with placebo, vitamin D supplementation did not reduce risk for:
    • Major cardiovascular events (HR, 0.97; P=.69) and
    • Invasive cancer (HR, 0.96; P=.47).
  • Omega-3 supplementations vs placebo did not reduce the risk for:
    • Major cardiovascular events (HR, 0.92; P=.24) and
    • Invasive cancer (HR, 1.03; P=.56).
  • Vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation did not offer protection against specific CVD and cancers.

Limitations

  • Only single dose used.
  • Short follow-up.

References


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