Vitamin D for Isolated Systolic Hypertension (VitDISH)

ISRCTN ISRCTN92186858
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN92186858
Secondary identifying numbers 2007CV09
Submission date
01/07/2008
Registration date
21/08/2008
Last edited
07/11/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Circulatory System
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Small studies have shown that vitamin D, a hormone that the skin usually makes using sunshine, may be able to reduce blood pressure in some people. The majority of people in Scotland have low levels of vitamin D, and people with low vitamin D tend to have higher blood pressure. People with high blood pressure have blood vessels that do not work as well as normal, and this leads to a higher risk of heart problems and strokes. The aim of this study is therefore to test whether giving extra vitamin D every three months to people with high blood pressure and low vitamin D levels helps to reduce blood pressure and other measures of blood vessel and heart health.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 70 and over with high blood pressure and low vitamin D levels

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to be given either a teaspoon of vitamin D oil or a placebo (dummy) oil once every 3 months for 12 months. Participants visit the hospital at the start of the study and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Each visit lasts two hours. These visits involve measuring blood pressure, taking blood samples, testing the arteries, a walking test, and answering questionnaires. After each visit, participants are given a teaspoon of the vitamin D or placebo oil to swallow. They are asked to keep a diary of any falls they have between now and the next visit.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Although participants are unlikely to benefit directly by taking part in the study, those who receive the vitamin D might find that their blood pressure is lower. Although this dose of vitamin D has been used before and is known to be safe there is a small possibility of side effects. Participants are closely monitored for side effects caused by high calcium levels: sickness, diarrhoea, thirst or dizziness. To reduce the chance of vitamin D increasing the blood calcium level, participants are asked to not take vitamin D or calcium supplements while they are taking part in this study. Having blood taken can cause some bruising. The blood pressure cuff causes mild discomfort to some people.

Where is the study run from?
Ninewells Hospital (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2009 to January 2012

Who is funding the study?
Chief Scientist Office (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Miles Witham
m.witham@dundee.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Miles Witham
Scientific

Section of Ageing and Health
Ninewells Hospital
Dundee
DD1 9SY
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1382 632436
Email m.witham@dundee.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised double-blind parallel-group placebo-controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleCan high-dose vitamin D supplementation reduce blood pressure and markers of cardiovascular risk in older people with isolated systolic hypertension? A randomised, double-blind, parallel group placebo controlled trial
Study acronymVitDISH
Study objectivesThat supplementation with 100,000 units of vitamin D3 every 3 months will produce reductions in blood pressure and improvements in markers of vascular health in patients aged greater than 70 years with isolated systolic hypertension.
Ethics approval(s)Fife and Forth Valley Research Ethics Committee, 15/12/2008, ref: 08/S0501/90
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedIsolated systolic hypertension
Intervention100,000 units of vitamin D3 or placebo every 3 months for 1 year.
Intervention typeSupplement
Primary outcome measureChange in office blood pressure at 3 months
Secondary outcome measures1. Change in office blood pressure at 0, 6, 9, 12 months
2. Change in 24 hour mean blood pressure at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 months
3. Change in B-type natriuretic peptide, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index at 0, 3 and 12 months
4. Change in endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery (FMD) at 0, 3 and 12 months
5. Change in pulse wave velocity at 0, 3 and 12 months
6. Change in 25-hydroxy vitamin D and parathyroid hormome (PTH) levels, cholesterol and triglycerides
Overall study start date09/10/2008
Completion date31/07/2012

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupSenior
SexBoth
Target number of participants180
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged greater than or equal to 70 years, either sex
2. Office systolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 mmHg
3. Serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D less than 75 nmol/L
Key exclusion criteria1. Hypertension known to be due to a correctable underlying medical or surgical cause
2. Diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg
3. Systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mmHg
4. Estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 40 ml/min (by four-variable modification of diet in renal disease rate [MDRD] equation)
5. Liver function tests (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase) greater than 3 x normal
6. Corrected calcium greater than 2.60 mmol/L or less than 2.15 mmol/L
7. Known metastatic malignancy or sarcoidosis
8. Clinical diagnosis of osteomalacia
9. History of renal calculi
10. Diagnosis of heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction
11. Atrial fibrillation
12. Already taking vitamin D supplements (consumption of fish oils will not be a contraindication to enrolment)
13. Unable to give written informed consent
Date of first enrolment01/02/2009
Date of final enrolment31/01/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Scotland
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Ninewells Hospital
Dundee
DD1 9SY
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Dundee (UK)
University/education

Research and Innovation Services
11 Perth Road
Dundee
DD1 4HN
Scotland
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1382 384664
Email j.z.houston@dundee.ac.uk
Website http://www.dundee.ac.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03h2bxq36

Funders

Funder type

Government

Chief Scientist Office (ref: CZH/4/470)
Government organisation / Local government
Alternative name(s)
CSO
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planThe protocol is available from the authors on request but is not available online.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr Catrina Forde (c.forde@dundee.ac.uk). Study data are available for non-commercial, bona-fide academic analyses in collaboration with the authors; decisions on data access will be made between the investigators and the Sponsor (University of Dundee). Participant consent for unrestricted sharing of individual participant data was not obtained.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 14/10/2013 Yes No
Basic results 01/11/2017 07/11/2017 No No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Additional files

ISRCTN92186858_BasicResults_01Nov17.pdf
Uploaded 07/11/2017

Editorial Notes

07/11/2017: The basic results of this trial have been uploaded as an additional file.
03/11/2017: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall trial start date was changed from 01/02/2009 to 09/10/2008.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 31/01/2012 to 31/07/2012.
01/11/2017: IPD sharing statement and plain English summary added.