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Overview of results from the Vitamin D Assessment (ViDA) study

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Abstract

Background

The Vitamin D Assessment (ViDA) study is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of monthly vitamin D supplementation in reducing the incidence of a range of acute and chronic diseases and intermediate outcomes.

Methods

The study was carried out in Auckland, New Zealand, among 5110 adults, aged 50–84 years, who were followed for a median 3.3 years. The intervention was vitamin D3 (2.5 mg or 100,000 IU) or placebo softgel oral capsules, mailed monthly to participants’ homes, with two capsules sent in the first mail-out post-randomisation (i.e. 200,000 IU bolus, or placebo), followed 1 month later (and thereafter monthly) with 100,000 IU vitamin D3 or placebo capsules. Outcomes were monitored through routinely collected health data and self-completed questionnaires.

Results

The results showed no beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation on incidence of cardiovascular disease, falls, non-vertebral fractures and all cancer. However, beneficial effects from vitamin D supplementation were seen: for persistence with taking statins in participants on long-term statin therapy; and also in bone mineral density and arterial function in participants with low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and in lung function among ever smokers (especially if vitamin D deficient). The latter findings are consistent with several previous studies,

Conclusion

Monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation does not prevent a range of diseases, but may be beneficial for some intermediate outcomes in people who are vitamin D deficient.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry identifier: ACTRN12611000402943.

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Funding

The ViDA study was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (Grant 10/400) and the Accident Compensation Corporation of New Zealand.

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  1. School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    R. K. R. Scragg

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Correspondence to R. K. R. Scragg.

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Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This was granted for the ViDA study by the Multiregion Ethics Committee, Wellington (MEC/09/08/082). All procedurers in this study on human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the aforementioned committee, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later ammendments.

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All participants in the ViDA study gave written informed consent.

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Scragg, R.K.R. Overview of results from the Vitamin D Assessment (ViDA) study. J Endocrinol Invest 42, 1391–1399 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-019-01056-z

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