Effect of Monthly High-Dose Vitamin D on CVD
Study results question the efficacy of monthly vitamin D supplementation as a method to prevent CVD.
HealthDay News — Taking high doses of vitamin D once a month won't lower the risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online in JAMA Cardiology.
The researchers behind the new study tracked the cardiovascular health of 5,108 adults. All participants were between 50 and 84 years old. About one-quarter were vitamin D deficient at the start of the trial — registering vitamin D levels of less than 20 ng/mL. Half were assigned to receive a high-dose vitamin D supplement once a month, with an initial dose of 200,000 IUs. That was followed by a regular monthly dose of 100,000 IUs. The other half received a monthly regimen of placebo supplements. The participants continued this regimen for more than 3 years, on average.
The investigators found that nearly 12% of both groups had developed some form of cardiovascular disease. The risk for developing hypertension and/or experiencing myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, or angina was similar whether or not a participant had begun the study deficient in vitamin D.
"Monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation does not prevent cardiovascular disease," the authors write. "This result does not support the use of monthly vitamin D supplementation for this purpose. The effects of daily or weekly dosing require further study."
- Scragg R, Stewart AW, Waayer D, et al. Effect of monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation on cardiovascular disease in the vitamin D assessment study [published online April 5]. JAMA Cardiol. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2017.0175
- Hernandez AF, Harrington RA, O'Donnell CJ. Integrating research with clinical practice [published online April 5, 2017]. JAMA Cardiol. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2017.0216