Tier 1 — highest

Effects of vitamin D3, omega-3s, and a simple home exercise program on incident vertebral fractures: the DO-HEALTH randomized controlled trial

Melanie Kistler-Fischbacher, Gabriele Armbrecht, José A P Da Silva, Caroline de Godoi Rezende Costa Molino, Robert Theiler, René Rizzoli, Bruno Vellas, Bess Dawson-Hughes, John A Kanis, Lorenz C Hofbauer, Endel John Orav, Reto W Kressig, Andreas Egli, Guido A Wanner, Heike A Bischoff-Ferrari, DO-HEALTH Research Group
Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2025 40(9):1035-1044

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 40492704
PubMed Central
PMC12406121
DOI
10.1093/jbmr/zjaf058
Trial registry
View on ClinicalTrials.gov Registered trial — results not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Funding
Support is recorded from European Union Seventh Framework Programme, Vontobel Foundation, European Union, 7th framework program of the European Union, Chair for Geriatric Medicine and Aging Research, NIAMS NIH HHS. See the original publication for grant and material-support details.
Competing interests
The source discloses financial, employment, advisory or material-support relationships involving DSM, Pfizer, Roche. See the publication for the authors and nature of each relationship.

Study snapshot

DesignSecondary vertebral-fracture analysis of the randomized DO-HEALTH trial
ModelHuman participants
Sample1,488 participants with vertebral imaging
InterventionD3 2,000 IU/day, omega-3 1 g/day and/or home strength exercise
Duration3 years
EndpointsNew or progressing vertebral fractures

What the study showed, in plain terms

This publication examines new or progressing vertebral fractures. Study population or evidence base: 1,488 participants with vertebral imaging. Intervention or exposure: D3 2,000 IU/day, omega-3 1 g/day and/or home strength exercise.

Key findings

Vitamin D and omega-3 did not reduce vertebral-fracture incidence. Selected exercise analyses suggested benefit for women and for fracture progression.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Secondary imaging analysis with relatively few events. The exercise signals should not be attributed to vitamin D supplementation.

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