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Vitamin D and/or fish oil supplementation do not reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (VITAL)
Clinical Question
Does dietary supplementation with vitamin D and/or fish oil (marine omega-3 fatty acids) reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation in adults?
Bottom line
This study found no benefit to daily supplementation with vitamin D and/or marine omega-3 fatty acids in reducing the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in adults 50 years or older. 1b
Reference
Study design: Randomized controlled trial (double-blinded)
Funding: Government
Setting: Outpatient (any)
Synopsis
Multiple observational studies link low blood levels of vitamin D and marine omega-3 fatty acids to an increased risk of AF in adults. These investigators identified men (50 years or older) and women (55 years or older) with no history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or AF. Eligible patients (N = 25,871) randomly received (concealed allocation assignment) daily supplementation with 2000 IU vitamin D and/or 840 mg marine omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) or placebo in a 2 x 2 factorial design (ie, vitamin D + EPA-DHA; vitamin D + placebo; EPA-DHA + placebo; double placebo). Individuals masked to treatment group assignment assessed the primary outcome of incident AF, including atrial flutter events, confirmed by medical record review. Complete follow-up occurred for 96.1% of patients for a median of 5.3 years. Using intention-to-treat analysis, no significant group differences occurred in the incidence of new-onset AF. The study was 90% powered to detect a predetermined clinically significant change in incident AF.
Reviewer
David C. Slawson, MD
Professor and Vice Chair of Family Medicine for Education and Scholarship
Atrium Health
Professor of Family Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill
Charlotte, NC
Comments
Applying acute care model to long term prevention
As usual, because we are mostly trained and therefore think in the acute care model of medicine, we fail to recognize that five years in your 50’s is a pathetically short time period In the prevention of diseases that take decades to evolve, Levels of the HORMONE and essential oil also needed to be titrated to individual target levels to have any meaning. One size does not fit all. Someday we might then recognize the need to study and treat the person, not the mythical average of the herd.
study setup
great study setup ! with consequently solid conclusion !
Vitamin D
I was not aware that this association was even contemplated.
vitamin D and fish oil to prevent a fib
not effective