Effects of vitamin D3, omega-3s, and a simple strength training exercise program on bone health: the DO-HEALTH randomized controlled trial

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • DO-HEALTH Research Group - (Author)
  • Melanie Kistler-Fischbacher - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Gabriele Armbrecht - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Stephanie Gängler - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Robert Theiler - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • René Rizzoli - , Geneva University Hospitals (Author)
  • Bess Dawson-Hughes - , Tufts University (Author)
  • John A. Kanis - , University of Sheffield (Author)
  • Lorenz C. Hofbauer - , Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Ralph C. Schimmer - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Bruno Vellas - , Centre Hospitalier, France, Universite Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (Author)
  • José A.P. Da Silva - , University of Coimbra (Author)
  • Orav E. John - , Harvard University (Author)
  • Reto W. Kressig - , Felix Platter University Geriatric Medicine (Author)
  • Egli Andreas - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Wei Lang - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Guido A. Wanner - , Private Hospital Bethanien (Author)
  • Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari - , University of Zurich, Center Hospitalo-Universitaire (CHU) de Toulouse (Author)

Abstract

Evidence on the effects of Vitamin D, omega-3s, and exercise on areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in healthy older adults is limited. We examined whether vitamin D3, omega-3s, or a simple home-based exercise program (SHEP), alone or in combination, over 3 years, improve lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), or total hip (TH) aBMD assessed by DXA. Areal BMD was a secondary outcome in DO-HEALTH, a 3-year, multicenter, double-blind, randomized 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design trial in generally healthy older adults age ≥ 70 years. The study interventions were vitamin D3 (2000IU/d), omega-3s (1 g/d), and SHEP (3 × 30 min/wk), applied alone or in combination in eight treatment arms. Mixed effects models were used, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, prior fall, study site, and baseline level of the outcome. Main effects were assessed in the absence of an interaction between the interventions. Subgroup analyses by age, sex, physical activity level, dietary calcium intake, serum 25(OH)D levels, and fracture history were conducted. DXA scans were available for 1493 participants (mean age 75 years; 80.4% were physically active, 44% had 25(OH)D levels <20 ng/mL). At the LS and FN sites, none of the treatments showed a benefit. At the TH, vitamin D versus no vitamin D treatment showed a significant benefit across 3 years (difference in adjusted means [AM]: 0.0035 [95% CI, 0.0011, 0.0059] g/cm). Furthermore, there was a benefit for vitamin D versus no vitamin D treatment on LS aBMD in the male subgroup (interaction P = .003; 2206AM: 0.0070 [95% CI, 0.0007, 0.0132] g/cm). Omega-3s and SHEP had no benefit on aBMD in healthy, active, and largely vitamin D replete older adults. Our study suggests a small benefit of 2000 IU vitamin D daily on TH aBMD overall and LS aBMD among men; however, effect sizes were very modest and the clinical impact of these findings is unclear.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)661-671
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of bone and mineral research
Volume39
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38613445
ORCID /0000-0002-8691-8423/work/181860829

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • aging, DXA, exercise, nutrition, osteoporosis