Effects of vitamin D3, omega-3s, and a simple home exercise program on incident vertebral fractures: The DO-HEALTH randomized controlled trial

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Melanie Kistler-Fischbacher - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Gabriele Armbrecht - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • José A.P. Da Silva - , University of Coimbra (Author)
  • Caroline De Godoi Rezende Costa Molino - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Robert Theiler - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • René Rizzoli - , Geneva University Hospitals (Author)
  • Bruno Vellas - , Center Hospitalo-Universitaire (CHU) de Toulouse, Universite Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (Author)
  • Bess Dawson-Hughes - , Tufts University (Author)
  • John A. Kanis - , University of Sheffield (Author)
  • Lorenz C. Hofbauer - , Department of Internal Medicine III, University Centre for Healthy Ageing (Author)
  • Endel John Orav - , Harvard University (Author)
  • Reto W. Kressig - , Felix Platter University Geriatric Medicine (Author)
  • Andreas Egli - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Guido A. Wanner - , Private Hospital Bethanien (Author)
  • Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Sandrine Rival - (Author)
  • Sophie Guyonnet - (Author)
  • Emmanuel Biver - (Author)
  • Fanny Merminod - (Author)
  • W. Kressig Reto - (Author)
  • Stephanie Bridenbaugh - (Author)
  • Norbert Suhm - (Author)
  • C. M. Duarte Cátia - (Author)
  • Ana Pinto Filipa - (Author)
  • Dieter Felsenberg - (Author)
  • Hendrikje Börst - (Author)
  • Michael Blauth - (Author)
  • Anna Spicher - (Author)
  • David T. Felson - (Author)
  • Eugene V. McCloskey - (Author)
  • Elena Johansson - (Author)
  • Bernhard Watzl - (Author)
  • Rodriguez Manuel Gomez - (Author)
  • Elena Tsourdi - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Martina Rauner - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Uwe Siebert - (Author)
  • Philippe Halbout - (Author)
  • Stephen M. Ferrari - (Author)
  • Benno Gut - (Author)
  • Marième Ba - (Author)
  • Jonas Wittwer Schegg - (Author)
  • Stéphane Etheve - (Author)
  • Manfred Eggersdorfer - (Author)
  • Sofa Delannoy Carla - (Author)
  • Monika Reuschling - (Author)
  • C. Willett Walter - (Author)
  • Joann E. Manson - (Author)
  • Hannes B. Staehelin - (Author)
  • W. Walter Paul - (Author)
  • Walter Dick - (Author)
  • Michael Fried - (Author)
  • Arnold Von Eckardstein - (Author)
  • Hans Peter Simmen - (Author)
  • Wolfgang Langhans - (Author)
  • Annelies Zinkernagel - (Author)
  • Nicolas Mueller - (Author)
  • Oliver Distler - (Author)
  • Klaus Graetz - (Author)
  • Ina Nitschke - (Author)
  • Thomas Dietrich - (Author)
  • Walter Baer - (Author)
  • Klara Landau - (Author)
  • Frank Ruschitzka - (Author)
  • Markus Manz - (Author)
  • Peter Burckhardt - (Author)

Abstract

Vertebral fractures (VFs) are among the most common osteoporotic fractures. The effect of vitamin D3, omega-3s or a simple home exercise program (SHEP) on VFs is unclear. We examined whether vitamin D3, omega-3s, or SHEP, alone or in combination, over 3 years, reduce the incidence rate of VFs among European older adults. DO-HEALTH is a multi-center, 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design, randomized controlled trial, which included older adults (≥70 years) free from major health events in the 5 years prior to enrollment. The study interventions were vitamin D3 (2000IU/d), omega-3s (1 g/d), and SHEP (3 × 30 min/wk), applied alone or in combination. Quantitative and qualitative VF assessment was determined from lateral thoracolumbar DXA scans. The primary outcome for this analysis was the incidence rate (IR) of total VFs, defined as the number of any new and progressed VFs over the 3-year follow-up. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for only new VFs and only VF progressions. Negative binomial regression models were fit, adjusted for age, sex, prior fall, BMI, study site and participants' follow-up time. 1488 participants (mean age 74.9 years; 77% had low bone mass or osteoporosis; 43.8% had 25(OH)D levels <20 ng/mL) were included. There were 93 incident VFs, of which 58 were new VFs and 35 were progressions. None of the three treatments reduced the IR of total VFs overall, however, the IR was reduced with SHEP compared to the control exercise program in women (IR ratio 0.52, 95% CI 0.28, 0.98). In the sensitivity analysis for VF progressions, SHEP reduced the IR (IR ratio 0.34, 95% CI 0.16, 0.75). Among generally healthy older adults, vitamin D3 and omega-3s supplementation did not reduce the incidence rate of VFs. SHEP reduced the incidence rate of total VFs in women and of VF progressions overall. Exercise may play a role in the prevention of VFs.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1035-1044
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of bone and mineral research
Volume40
Issue number9
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 40492704
ORCID /0009-0001-9754-1334/work/202353760
ORCID /0000-0002-8691-8423/work/202353967

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • community-dwelling older adults, low bone mass, nutritional supplements, osteoporosis, prevention, vertebral deformity, vertebral fracture progression, Vertebral morphology