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
References