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The D-Health Trial: A randomized trial of vitamin D for prevention of mortality and cancer

Citation

Neale, RE and Armstrong, BK and Baxter, C and Duarte Romero, B and Ebeling, P and English, DR and Kimlin, MG and McLeod, DSA and O'Connell, RL and van der Pols, JC and Venn, AJ and Webb, PM and Whiteman, DC and Wockner, L, The D-Health Trial: A randomized trial of vitamin D for prevention of mortality and cancer, Contemporary Clinical Trials, 48 pp. 83-90. ISSN 1551-7144 (2016) [Refereed Article]

Copyright Statement

Copyright 2016 Elsevier Inc.

DOI: doi:10.1016/j.cct.2016.04.005

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D, specifically serum 25(OH)D has been associated with mortality, cancer and multiple other health endpoints in observational studies, but there is a paucity of clinical trial evidence sufficient to determine the safety and effectiveness of population-wide supplementation. We have therefore launched the D-Health Trial, a randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation for prevention of mortality and cancer. Here we report the methods and describe the trial cohort.

METHODS: The D-Health Trial is a randomized placebo-controlled trial, with planned intervention for 5years and a further 5years of passive follow-up through linkage with health and death registers. Participants aged 65-84years were recruited from the general population of Australia. The intervention is monthly oral doses of 60,000IU of cholecalciferol or matching placebo. The primary outcome is all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes are total cancer incidence and colorectal cancer incidence.

RESULTS: We recruited 21,315 participants to the trial between February 2014 and May 2015. The participants in the two arms of the trial were well-balanced at baseline. Comparison with Australian population statistics shows that the trial participants were less likely to report being in fair or poor health, to be current smokers or to have diabetes than the Australian population. However, the proportion overweight or with health conditions such as arthritis and angina was similar.

CONCLUSIONS: Observational data cannot be considered sufficient to support interventions delivered at a population level. Large-scale randomized trials such as the D-Health Trial are needed to inform public health policy and practice.

Item Details

Item Type:Refereed Article
Keywords:Cancer, Mortality, Randomized clinical trial, Vitamin D
Research Division:Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:Public Health and Health Services
Research Field:Epidemiology
Objective Division:Health
Objective Group:Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions)
Objective Field:Cancer and Related Disorders
Author:Venn, AJ (Professor Alison Venn)
ID Code:109610
Year Published:2016
Web of Science® Times Cited:16
Deposited By:Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:2016-06-23
Last Modified:2017-12-05
Downloads:0

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