Effects of Supplemental Vitamin D3, Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Physical Performance Measures in VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL.

CONTEXT: Declining muscle strength and performance in older adults are associated with falls, fractures, and premature death. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether supplementation with vitamin D3 or omega-3 fatty acids vs. placebo for 2 years improves physical performance measures. DESIGN: VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized trial of supplemental vitamin D3 and/or omega-3 fatty acids vs. placebo in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease in 25,871 U.S. adults. This ancillary study was completed in a New England sub-cohort that had in-person evaluations at baseline and 2-year follow-up. SETTING: Center for Clinical Investigations in Boston. PARTICIPANTS: 1,054 participants (men ≥50 and women ≥55 years). INTERVENTIONS: 2x2 factorial design of supplemental vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, 2000 IU/day) and/or marine omega-3 fatty acids (1 g/day). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 2-year changes in physical performance measures of grip strength, walking speed, standing balance, repeated chair stands, and Timed-up and Go (TUG). RESULTS: At 2 years, all randomized groups showed worsening walking speeds and TUG. There were no differences in changes in grip strength, walking speeds, Short Physical Performance Battery (composite of walking speed, balance, and chair stands), and TUG between the vitamin D3-treated and the placebo-treated groups and between the omega-3-treated and the placebo-treated groups. Effects overall did not vary by sex, age, body mass index, or baseline measures of total or free 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) or plasma n-3 index; TUG slightly worsened with vitamin D supplementation, compared to placebo, in participants with baseline total 25(OH)D levels above the median (p=0.01, p for interaction=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Neither supplemental vitamin D3 nor marine omega-3 fatty acids for 2 years improved physical performance in this generally healthy adult population.

Over-the-counter fish oil supplementation and pro-resolving and pro-inflammatory lipid mediators in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the effects of over-the-counter fish oil (FO) supplements on circulating omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA)-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), nor about whether having a chronic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) influences SPM levels. We investigated associations between over-the-counter n-3 PUFA FO supplementation and circulating SPMs among patients with vs. without RA. METHODS: We studied 104 participants: 26 with RA taking FO matched by age and sex to 26 with RA not taking FO, 26 without RA taking FO, and 26 without RA not taking FO. Targeted-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy was performed on patient plasma to identify and quantify 27 lipid mediators (including eicosanoids and SPMs). We performed t-tests and then multivariable linear regression analyses to assess whether having RA or taking FO supplements was associated with circulating lipid mediator concentrations, adjusting for age, race, sex, smoking, body mass index, and current medication use (statins, prednisone and immunomodulators among RA cases only). We tested for interactions between FO supplementation and RA status. We also conducted Spearman's correlations between EPA, DHA, and ARA and their downstream metabolites. RESULTS: Among patients who were taking FO compared to those who were not, in multivariable- adjusted analyses, SPM substrates EPA and DHA were both elevated as were several of their pro-resolving bioactive products, including 15- and 18-HEPE from EPA, and 14- and 17-HDHA from DHA, which are substrates for specific SPMs. While E-series and D-series resolvins were present and identified, we did not find statistical elevations of other SPMs. Results were similar among patients with RA and patients without RA, taking vs. not taking FO supplementation (no formal statistical interaction observed). There was a strong positive correlation between EPA and DHA and their immediate downstream SPM precursors (18-HEPE and15-HEPE from EPA; 17-HDHA and 14-HDHA from DHA) among all patients. CONCLUSION: Patients taking FO supplements, regardless of RA status, not only had higher blood levels of EPA and DHA, but also of their enzymatic products 18-HEPE (E-series resolvin precursors), 15-HEPE and 17-HDHA (D-series resolvin and protectin precursors). Patients with RA, an inflammatory autoimmune disease, may be able to augment some SPM precursor reserves, similarly to matched controls without RA, by taking oral FO supplements.

Effects of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Body Composition in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL).

CONTEXT: Although observational studies show inverse associations between vitamin D status and body weight/adiposity, there are few large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating this relationship. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether vitamin D3 supplementation lowers weight or improves body composition. DESIGN: The VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled RCT including 25 871 US adults. This ancillary study was completed in a sub-cohort that underwent body composition assessments at baseline and 2-year follow-up (89% retention). SETTING: Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center in Boston. PARTICIPANTS: 771 participants (men ≥ 50 and women ≥ 55 years). INTERVENTIONS: 2 × 2 factorial design of supplemental vitamin D3 (2000 IU/day) and/or omega-3 fatty acids (1 g/day). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Endpoints were 2-year changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and total and/or regional fat and lean tissue measures determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Effect modification by clinical variables and total and free 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels was explored. RESULTS: There were no effects of supplemental vitamin D3vs placebo on weight, BMI, or measures of adiposity and lean tissue. Effects did not vary by sex, race/ethnicity, fat mass index, or baseline total or free 25(OH)D levels. Vitamin D3 supplementation did slightly improve body fat percentage in participants with normal BMI at baseline, but not in the overweight or obese (P for interaction = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Daily vitamin D3 supplementation vs placebo in the general older population did not improve weight or body composition. Whether supplemental vitamin D3 may benefit individuals with normal BMI warrants further study.

VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL): Effects of Vitamin D Supplements on Risk of Falls in the US Population.

CONTEXT: It is unclear whether vitamin D supplementation reduces risk of falls, and results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to determine whether 2000 IU/day of supplemental vitamin D3 decreases fall risk. DESIGN: VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) is a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT including 25 871 adults, randomly assigned November 2011 to March 2014 and treated for 5.3 years (median). SETTING: This is a nationwide study. PARTICIPANTS: Men 50 years or older and women 55 years or older (mean age, 67.1 years) without cancer or cardiovascular disease at baseline participated in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions included vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol; 2000 IU/day) and/or omega-3 fatty acids (1 g/day) or respective placebos in a 2 × 2 factorial design. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measures include 2 or more falls and falls resulting in a doctor or hospital visit. RESULTS: Baseline serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level was 77 nmol/L; characteristics were well-balanced between groups. Numbers of participants with 2 or more falls were similar between active and placebo groups (9.8% vs 9.4%). Over 5 years, there were no differences in the proportion having 2 or more falls (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.90-1.05, P = .50), falls resulting in a doctor visit (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.94-1.13, P = .46), or resulting in a hospital visit (OR = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.90-1.19, P = .61) between groups. Results did not differ between those with baseline 25(OH)D less than 50 vs 50 nmol/L or greater or other cut points. CONCLUSION: Daily supplemental vitamin D3 vs placebo did not decrease fall risk in generally healthy adults not selected for vitamin D insufficiency. This large RCT does not indicate that supplemental vitamin D should be used for primary prevention of falls in the US population.

Association of Migraine With Aura and Other Risk Factors With Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Women.

Importance: Migraine with aura is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The absolute contribution of migraine with aura to CVD incidence in relation to other CVD risk factors remains unclear. Objective: To estimate the CVD incidence rate for women with migraine with aura relative to women with other major vascular risk factors. Design, Setting, and Participants: Female health professionals in the US (the Women's Health Study cohort) with lipid measurements and no CVD at baseline (1992-1995) were followed up through December 31, 2018. Exposures: Self-reported migraine with aura compared with migraine without aura or no migraine at baseline. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was major CVD (first myocardial infarction, stroke, or CVD death). Generalized modeling procedures were used to calculate multivariable-adjusted incidence rates for major CVD events by risk factor status that included all women in the cohort. Results: The study population included 27 858 women (mean [SD] age at baseline, 54.7 [7.1] years), among whom 1435 (5.2%) had migraine with aura and 26 423 (94.8%) did not (2177 [7.8%] had migraine without aura and 24 246 [87.0%] had no migraine in the year prior to baseline). During a mean follow-up of 22.6 years (629 353 person-years), 1666 major CVD events occurred. The adjusted incidence rate of major CVD per 1000 person-years was 3.36 (95% CI, 2.72-3.99) for women with migraine with aura vs 2.11 (95% CI, 1.98-2.24) for women with migraine without aura or no migraine (P < .001). The incidence rate for women with migraine with aura was significantly higher than the adjusted incidence rate among women with obesity (2.29 [95% CI, 2.02-2.56]), high triglycerides (2.67 [95% CI, 2.38-2.95]), or low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.63 [95% CI, 2.33-2.94]), but was not significantly different from the rates among those with elevated systolic blood pressure (3.78 [95% CI, 2.76-4.81]), high total cholesterol (2.85 [95% CI, 2.38-3.32]), or family history of myocardial infarction (2.71 [95% CI, 2.38-3.05]). Incidence rates among women with diabetes (5.76 [95% CI, 4.68-6.84]) or who currently smoked (4.29 [95% CI, 3.79-4.79]) were significantly higher than those with migraine with aura. The incremental increase in the incidence rate for migraine with aura ranged from 1.01 additional cases per 1000 person-years when added to obesity to 2.57 additional cases per 1000 person-years when added to diabetes. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study of female health professionals aged at least 45 years, women with migraine with aura had a higher adjusted incidence rate of CVD compared with women with migraine without aura or no migraine. The clinical importance of these findings, and whether they are generalizable beyond this study population, require further research.

Effects of One Year of Vitamin D and Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Biomarkers of Systemic Inflammation in Older US Adults.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies suggest vitamin D and marine ω-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) supplements are associated with lower systemic inflammation. However, past trials have been inconsistent. METHODS: The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) tested vitamin D (2000 IU/day) and/or n-3 FA (1 g/day) supplementation in a 2 × 2 factorial design among women ≥55 and men ≥50 years of age. We assessed changes in interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations from baseline to 1 year among participants randomized to vitamin D + n-3 FA (392), vitamin D (392), n-3 FA (392), or placebo only (385). Geometric means and percent changes were compared, adjusting for baseline factors. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were well balanced. In the active arms, 25-OH vitamin D rose 39% and n-3 FA rose 55% vs minimal change in placebo arms. Neither supplement reduced biomarkers at 1 year. Vitamin D resulted in 8.2% higher IL-6 (95% CI, 1.5%-15.3%; adjusted P = 0.02), but TNFR2 and hsCRP did not. Among 784 receiving vitamin D, hsCRP increased 35.7% (7.8%-70.9%) in those with low (<20 ng/mL) but not with higher baseline serum 25(OH) vitamin D [0.45% (-8.9% to 10.8%); P interaction = 0.02]. Among 777 randomized to n-3 FA, hsCRP declined [-10.5% (-20.4% to 0.8%)] in those with baseline low (<1.5 servings/week), but not with higher fish intake [6.4% (95% CI, -7.11% to 21.8%); P interaction = 0.06]. CONCLUSIONS: In this large sample from a population-based randomized controlled trial, neither vitamin D nor n-3 FA supplementation over 1 year decreased these biomarkers of inflammation. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01169259; NCT01351805.

Baseline characteristics of participants in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL): Effects on Bone Structure and Architecture.

Vitamin D supplements are often used to benefit skeletal health, although data on effects of daily high-dose vitamin D alone on bone density and structure are lacking. The ongoing VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial testing effects of high-dose supplemental vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol; 2000 IU/day) and/or omega-3 fatty acids (FAs; 1 g/day) for the primary prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The study has a mean treatment period of 5 years among 25,874 U.S. men ≥50 years and women ≥55 years old from all 50 states. The ancillary study, VITAL: Effects on Bone Structure and Architecture, is testing effects of vitamin D3 and/or omega-3 FAs on musculoskeletal outcomes and body composition in a subcohort of 771 participants. At in-person visits at the Harvard Catalyst Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC), participants completed bone density/architecture, body composition, and physical performance assessments at baseline and two-year follow-up. Baseline characteristics were evenly distributed among treatment groups, suggesting that any uninvestigated confounders will be evenly distributed; sex differences were also analyzed. Future analyses of the two-year follow-up visits will elucidate whether daily high-dose, supplemental vitamin D3 and/or omega-3 FAs improve musculoskeletal outcomes, helping to advance clinical and public health recommendations. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01747447.

Prospective randomized comparison of rotational angiography with three-dimensional reconstruction and computed tomography merged with electro-anatomical mapping: a two center atrial fibrillation ablation study.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and accuracy of rotational angiography with three-dimensional reconstruction (3DATG) image merged with electro-anatomical mapping (EAM) vs. CT-EAM. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, parallel, two-center study conducted in 36 patients (25 men, age 65 ± 10 years) undergoing AF ablation (33 % paroxysmal, 67 % persistent) guided by 3DATG (group 1) vs. CT (group 2) image fusion with EAM. 3DATG was performed on the Philips Allura Xper FD 10 system. Procedural characteristics including time, radiation exposure, outcome, and navigation accuracy were compared between two groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in total procedure duration or time spent for various procedural steps. Minor differences in procedural characteristics were present between two centers. Segmentation and fusion time for 3DATG or CT-EAM was short and similar between both centers. Accuracy of navigation guided by either method was high and did not depend on left atrial size. Maintenance of sinus rhythm between the two groups was no different up to 24 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study did not find superiority of 3DATG-EAM image merge to guide AF ablation when compared to CT-EAM fusion. Both merging techniques result in similar navigation accuracy.

Usefulness of desirable lifestyle factors to attenuate the risk of heart failure among offspring whose parents had myocardial infarction before age 55 years.

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in the United States and throughout Europe. Although a higher risk for HF with antecedent myocardial infarction (MI) has been reported in offspring whose parents had MIs before age 55 years, it is unclear whether adherence to healthful behaviors can mitigate that risk. The aim of the present study was therefore to prospectively examine if adherence to healthy weight, regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, and abstinence from smoking can attenuate such increased HF risk. Information on parental history of MI and lifestyle factors was collected using questionnaires. Subjects adhering to ≥3 healthy lifestyle factors were classified as having good versus poor lifestyle scores. Incident HF was assessed via yearly follow-up questionnaires and validated in a subsample. During an average follow up of 21.7 ± 6.5 years, 1,323 new HF cases (6.6%), of which 190 (14.4%) were preceded by MI, occurred. Compared to subjects with good lifestyle scores and no parental histories of premature MI, multivariate adjusted hazard ratios for incident HF with antecedent MI were 3.21 (95% confidence interval 1.74 to 5.91) for subjects with good lifestyle score and parental histories of premature MI, 1.52 (95% confidence interval 1.12 to 2.07) for those with poor lifestyle score and no parental histories of premature MI, and 4.60 (95% confidence interval 2.55 to 8.30) for those with poor lifestyle scores and parental histories of premature MI. In conclusion, our data suggest that even in subjects at higher risk for HF because of genetic predisposition, adherence to healthful lifestyle factors may attenuate such an elevated HF risk.

Risk factors for mortality in lower intestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Previous studies of lower intestinal bleeding (LIB) have limited power to study mortality. We sought to identify characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality in a large cohort of patients with LIB. METHODS: We used the 2002 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample to study a cross-sectional cohort of 227,022 hospitalized patients with discharge diagnoses indicating LIB. Predictors of mortality were identified by using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: In 2002, an estimated 8737 patients with LIB (3.9%) died while hospitalized. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were age (age >70 vs <50 years; odds ratio [OR], 4.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.45-9.87), intestinal ischemia (OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 2.57-4.68), comorbid illness (>or=2 vs 0 comorbidities, OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 2.25-3.98), bleeding while hospitalized for a separate process (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.81-3.04), coagulation defects (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.50-3.65), hypovolemia (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.69-2.90), transfusion of packed red blood cells (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.23-2.08), and male gender (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.21-1.92). Colorectal polyps (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.15-0.45), and hemorrhoids (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.28-0.64) were associated with a lower risk of mortality, as was diagnostic testing for LIB when added to the multivariate model (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.28-0.48). Hospital characteristics were not significantly related to mortality. Predictors of mortality were similar in an analysis restricted to patients with diverticular bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The all-cause in-hospital mortality rate in LIB was low (3.9%). Advanced age, intestinal ischemia, and comorbid illness were the strongest predictors of mortality.

Protein microarray analysis of disease activity in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease demonstrates elevated serum PLGF, IL-7, TGF-beta1, and IL-12p40 levels in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients in remission versus active disease.

OBJECTIVES: Cytokines and growth factors play a major role in the dysregulated immune response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We hypothesized that significant differences exist between the serum cytokine and growth factor profiles of pediatric IBD patients with active disease (AD) and those in remission, and that levels of some of these soluble mediators may be used to define regulators in IBD and determine disease activity. METHODS: Eighty-eight consecutive patients with confirmed Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) seen at the Duke Children's Hospital were prospectively enrolled and a serum sample was obtained. Data were recorded at the time of serum collection to calculate disease activity indices. The relative expression of 78 cytokines, growth factors, and soluble receptors was determined using proprietary antibody-based protein microarrays amplified by rolling circle amplification. SPSS 8 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was used to compare protein profiles for CD and UC patients in clinical remission (CR) versus AD. RESULTS: Sixty-five CD patients and 23 UC patients were enrolled. Forty-one CD patients had available samples and PCDAI results. Twenty-two patients were in remission PCDAI < or = 12.5 (median 5), 19 patients had disease activity >15 (median 30). Univariate analysis revealed that PLGF, IL-7, IL-12p40, and TGF-beta1 cytokine levels were significantly elevated for patients in CR versus AD (p < 0.01). Twelve UC serum samples had Seo/Truelove Witt AI for analysis. Five patients were in remission by TW AI and Seo AI < or =110 and 7 patients had active mild-to-severe disease by TW and Seo AI >110. Only one cytokine, IL12p40, showed significance between CR versus AD (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Surprisingly, we found no differences in circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines but found that pediatric IBD patients in remission compared to those with AD had higher levels of specific circulating cytokines, including the regulatory cytokines IL-12p40 and TGF-beta1. It may be that these cytokines directly regulate intestinal inflammation in IBD or reflect the activity of T regulatory cells in negatively regulating the inflammatory response. Further studies will be needed to validate our results to define the molecular pathways involved in the intestinal immune response in man.