18/11/2021
The VITAL Trial
Dr. Costenbader and her colleagues recruited 25,871 adults for the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL).
All of the men who participated were aged 50 years or older. The women, who accounted for 51% of the cohort, were aged 55 years or older. The average age of the participants was 67 years.
The researchers divided the participants into four randomly assigned groups, each of which received a daily allotment for 5.3 years of either:
An omega-3 placebo and a vitamin D placebo
1 milligram (mg) of an omega-3 fatty acid supplement and 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D
An omega-3 placebo and 2,000 IU of vitamin D
1 mg of an omega-3 fatty acid supplement and a vitamin D placebo
The trial ran from November 2011 to March 2014, and treatment continued until December 2017. The participants reported physician-diagnosed autoimmune issues as they arose.
THE REDUCTION RISK
The researchers assessed the effect of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids on autoimmune disease overall and on individual autoimmune conditions.
In the final analysis, the incidence of autoimmune disease was reduced by 25–30% for participants who took vitamin D supplements, omega-3 fatty acid supplements, or both, compared with people who took only placebos.
THE REDUCTION RISK
The researchers assessed the effect of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids on autoimmune disease overall and on individual autoimmune conditions.
In the final analysis, the incidence of autoimmune disease was reduced by 25–30% for participants who took vitamin D supplements, omega-3 fatty acid supplements, or both, compared with people who took only placebos.
“The effect of vitamin D3 appeared stronger after 2 years of supplementation,” write the researchers.
“The reduced incidence of RA and polymyalgia rheumatica are very important for rheumatology,” says Dr. Costenbader. “The more pronounced effect after 2–3 years of use with vitamin D makes sense biologically and supports long-term use.”