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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. ​⁠
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