The video highlights how daily Vitamin D and Omega-3 supplementation may benefit aging across biological, phenotypic, and functional metrics.
Here are the key points from the webinar featuring Prof. Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari on the DO-HEALTH and VITAL trials:
1. Overview of the Trials
- The DO-HEALTH (Europe) and VITAL (US) trials are large, high-quality studies examining the effects of daily Vitamin D (2,000 IU) and Omega-3 (1g) supplementation in generally healthy older adults.
- DO-HEALTH included adults aged 70+ across five European countries; VITAL included adults aged 50+ in the US.
2. Three Metrics of Aging
- The trials assessed three key metrics:
- Biological aging (cellular/epigenetic changes)
- Phenotypic aging (incidence of chronic diseases)
- Functional aging (physical and cognitive function)
3. Main Findings
- Additive Benefits: Combining Vitamin D, Omega-3, and exercise led to greater reductions in invasive cancer and pre-frailty than any single intervention alone.
- Cancer: Triple intervention reduced incident invasive cancer by 61% over three years in DO-HEALTH.
- Functional Aging: Triple intervention reduced pre-frailty by 39%.
- Biological Aging: Omega-3, especially when combined with Vitamin D and exercise, slowed biological aging as measured by epigenetic clocks (about 3 months of “rejuvenation” over 3 years).
- VITAL Trial: In the US, Omega-3 reduced major cardiovascular events in people with low fish intake, and Vitamin D reduced advanced cancer and cancer mortality.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Vitamin D alone reduced autoimmune diseases by 22%, Omega-3 by 15% (not significant), and both together by 31%.
4. Supplementation Details and Safety
- The tested doses were 2,000 IU Vitamin D and 1g Omega-3 daily. Higher doses are not recommended due to potential risks (e.g., atrial fibrillation with high Omega-3).
- Daily dosing is more effective and safer than intermittent high-dose (“bolus”) Vitamin D.
- No significant side effects (like hypercalcemia or kidney stones) were observed at these doses.
5. Broader Implications
- These interventions are affordable and scalable, potentially supporting healthy longevity at the population level.
- Ongoing research aims to merge data from both trials and further validate biomarkers of aging for clinical use.
6. Q&A Highlights
- Sunlight is the main source of Vitamin D, but supplementation is important, especially in older adults and regions with low sun exposure.
- The exercise component in DO-HEALTH was a simple, home-based strength program using resistance bands.
- The trials did not adjust for sunlight exposure, but randomization balanced this factor.