Effect of vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, or strength training on clinical outcomes in older adults

For the DO-HEALTH clinical study, researchers examined whether clinical outcomes in older adults are improved by extra vitamin D, omega-3 supplementation, and/or exercise. Specifically, they were interested in the effect these interventions had on systolic/diastolic blood pressure, nonvertebral fractures, physical performance, infection rate, and cognition over 3 years of followup. The trial’s 2,157 enrollees, all aged 70 years and older with no history of major health events in the prior 5 years, were split into eight treatment arms. According to randomized assignment, they received all three interventions, vitamin D3 and omega-3 supplementation only, vitamin D3 and exercise only, vitamin D3 by itself, omega-3s combined with exercise, omega-3’s alone, just exercise, or placebo. Among the 1,900 participants who completed the trial, treatment with vitamin D3 supplements, omega-3 supplements, or strength-training exercise did not generate statistically significant differences in improvement—either alone, or combined—of six clinical outcomes in generally healthy older adults. The evidence does not support efficacy of these three interventions for these clinical outcomes in this population, the study authors conclude.