Vitamin D and Fish Oil for Autoimmune Disease, Inflammation and Knee Pain

Summary

The VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL; NCT 01169259) is a randomized clinical trial in 25,871 U.S. men and women investigating whether taking daily dietary supplements of vitamin D3 (2000 IU) or omega-3 fatty acids (Omacor® fish oil, 1 gram) reduces the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and stroke in people who do not have a prior history of these illnesses. This ancillary study is being conducted among VITAL participants and will examine whether vitamin D or fish oil have effects upon A) autoimmune disease incidence, B) biomarkers of systemic inflammation, and C) chronic knee pain. Blood samples at baseline and in follow-up will be collected in a randomly selected subcohort of 1500 individuals and analyzed for changes in biomarkers of systemic inflammation: C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-receptor 2. Approximately 1300 individuals with chronic, frequent knee pain will be followed with annual questionnaires to evaluate the effects of the supplements on chronic knee pain.

Timeline

Start

2010-07

Primary completion

2018-11-10

Completion

2025-02

Publications

• Results Oakes EG, Vlasakov I, Kotler G, Bubes V, Mora S, Tatituri R, Cook NR, Manson JE, Costenbader KH. Joint effects of one year of marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and participant dietary fish intake upon circulating lipid mediators of inflammation resolution in a randomized controlled trial. Nutrition. 2024 Jul;123:112413. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2024.112413. Epub 2024 Feb 28.
• Results Costenbader KH, Cook NR, Lee IM, Hahn J, Walter J, Bubes V, Kotler G, Yang N, Friedman S, Alexander EK, Manson JE. Vitamin D and Marine n-3 Fatty Acids for Autoimmune Disease Prevention: Outcomes Two Years After Completion of a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2024 Jun;76(6):973-983. doi: 10.1002/art.42811. Epub 2024 Feb 20.
• Results Costenbader KH, MacFarlane LA, Lee IM, Buring JE, Mora S, Bubes V, Kotler G, Camargo CA Jr, Manson JE, Cook NR. Effects of One Year of Vitamin D and Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Biomarkers of Systemic Inflammation in Older US Adults. Clin Chem. 2019 Dec;65(12):1508-1521. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2019.306902. Epub 2019 Nov 7.
• Results MacFarlane LA, Cook NR, Kim E, Lee IM, Iversen MD, Gordon D, Buring JE, Katz JN, Manson JE, Costenbader KH. The Effects of Vitamin D and Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Chronic Knee Pain in Older US Adults: Results From a Randomized Trial. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Nov;72(11):1836-1844. doi: 10.1002/art.41416. Epub 2020 Oct 3.
• Results Hahn J, Cook NR, Alexander EK, Friedman S, Walter J, Bubes V, Kotler G, Lee IM, Manson JE, Costenbader KH. Vitamin D and marine omega 3 fatty acid supplementation and incident autoimmune disease: VITAL randomized controlled trial. BMJ. 2022 Jan 26;376:e066452. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2021-066452.

Drugs

Indications