Effects of Vitamin D and Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Anemia

The VITamin D and OmegA-3 Trial (VITAL; NCT01169259) is a randomized clinical trial of vitamin D (in the form of D3 [cholecalciferol]) and marine omega-3 fatty acid (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] + docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) supplements in the primary prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Eligible participants will be assigned by chance (like a coin toss) to one of four groups: (1) daily vitamin D3 and omega-3; (2) daily vitamin D3 and omega-3 placebo; (3) daily vitamin D and omega-3; or (4) daily vitamin D placebo and omega-3 placebo. Participants have an equal chance of being assigned to any of these four groups and a 3 out of 4 chance of getting at least one active agent.

Participants in all group will take two pills each day--one softgel that contains either vitamin D3 or vitamin D placebo and one capsule that contains either omega-3 or omega-3 placebo. Participants will receive their study pills in convenient calendar packages via U.S. mail.

Participants will also fill out a short (15-20 minute) questionnaire each year. The questionnaire asks about health; lifestyle habits such as physical exercise, diet, and smoking; use of medications and dietary supplements; family history of illness, and new medical diagnoses. Occasionally participants may receive a phone call from study staff to collect information or to clarify responses on the questions.

If a participant reports a new medical diagnosis of anemia on the short questionnaires, he or she will be invited to participate in this sub-study. If the participant consents, his or her medical record will be reviewed to confirm the diagnosis of anemia. We expect roughly 1,100 individuals to develop anemia while on the study.

Of the expected 20,000 participants in the VITAL trial, approximately 1,000 participants will be seen in Boston and given the opportunity to participate in optional research blood draws. This sub-study expects to receive approximately 10mL of the samples collected from 900 of these participants. This portion of blood will be used to evaluate the amount of different proteins in both anemic and non-anemic individuals. Blood samples will be collected at baseline and two years later.

Participants in VITAL (NCT 01169259) who do not have anemia at baseline and who report a diagnosis of anemia on the VITAL follow-up questionnaires are eligible to participate in this ancillary study.