Vitamin D supplementation and prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in the Finnish Vitamin D Trial: a randomized controlled trial

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#aged #cardiovascular-diseases #cholecalciferol #dietary-supplements #double-blind-method

Vitamin D supplementation and prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in the Finnish Vitamin D Trial: a randomized controlled trial

Virtanen et al., 2022 | Am J Clin Nutr | Rct

Citation

Virtanen Jyrki K, Nurmi Tarja, ... Hantunen Sari. Vitamin D supplementation and prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in the Finnish Vitamin D Trial: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022-May-01;115(5):1300-1310. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqab419

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer in observational studies, but evidence for benefits with vitamin D supplementation is limited. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on CVD and cancer incidences. METHODS: The study was a 5-year, randomized, placebo-controlled trial among 2495 male participants ≥60 years and post-menopausal female participants ≥65 years from a general Finnish population who were free of prior CVD or cancer. The study had 3 arms: placebo, 1600 IU/day, or 3200 IU/day vitamin D3. Follow-up was by annual study questionnaires and national registry data. A representative subcohort of 551 participants had more detailed in-person investigations. The primary endpoints were incident major CVD and invasive cancer. Secondary endpoints included the individual components of the primary CVD endpoint (myocardial infarction, stroke, and CVD mortality), site-specific cancers, and cancer death. RESULTS: During the follow-up, there were 41 (4.9%), 42 (5.0%), and 36 (4.3%) major CVD events in the placebo, 1600 IU/d (compared with placebo: HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.63-1.49; P = 0.89), and 3200 IU/d (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.54-1.31; P = 0.44) arms, respectively. Invasive cancer was diagnosed in 41 (4.9%), 48 (5.8%), and 40 (4.8%) participants in the placebo, 1600 IU/d (HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.75-1.72; P = 0.55), and 3200 IU/d (HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.61-1.47; P = 0.81) arms, respectively. There were no significant differences in the secondary endpoints or total mortality. In the subcohort, the mean baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 75 nmol/L (SD, 18 nmol/L). After 12 months, the concentrations were 73 nmol/L (SD, 18 nmol/L), 100 nmol/L (SD, 21 nmol/L), and 120 nmol/L (SD, 22 nmol/L) in the placebo, 1600 IU/d, and 3200 IU/d arms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D3 supplementation did not lower the incidences of major CVD events or invasive cancer among older adults, possibly due to sufficient vitamin D status in most participants at baseline.

Key Findings

During the follow-up, there were 41 (4.9%), 42 (5.0%), and 36 (4.3%) major CVD events in the placebo, 1600 IU/d (compared with placebo: HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.63-1.49; P = 0.89), and 3200 IU/d (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.54-1.31; P = 0.44) arms, respectively. Invasive cancer was diagnosed in 41 (4.9%), 48 (5.8%), and 40 (4.8%) participants in the placebo, 1600 IU/d (HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.75-1.72; P = 0.55), and 3200 IU/d (HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.61-1.47; P = 0.81) arms, respectively. There were no significant d

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population older adults
Sample Size 551
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Cholecalciferol
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Vitamins

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Vertical: vitamin-d-cancer

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09