Vitamin D3 and calcium carbonate for adolescents with HIV
What it found
In adolescents with HIV in Zambia and Zimbabwe, weekly vitamin D3 plus daily calcium carbonate is being tested to see if it improves bone density, muscle strength and respiratory infections over 48 weeks.
The trial is still recruiting, so no results are available yet.
What they found
Studies in people
Bone density
The main outcome is total body less-head bone mineral content for lean mass adjusted for height at 48 weeks, measured by DEXA. This will show if the supplements affect bone mineral in growing adolescents.
Muscle and infections
Secondary outcomes include lumbar spine bone density, lean muscle mass, grip strength and number of respiratory infections at 48 and 96 weeks.
Sub-studies
Sub-studies will look at vitamin D pathway metabolites, bone turnover markers, gut bacteria and immune function.
Safety monitoring
The trial will monitor for high calcium levels and other side effects, with blood tests at weeks 12 and 24.
What the authors conclude
- They hypothesise that supplementation will promote bone accrual and mineralisation, optimise peak bone mass and reduce fracture risk.
- They also suggest possible benefits for muscle strength, immune function and gut bacteria.
- They note that this is the largest trial of vitamin D supplementation in children living with HIV.
How it was done
Children living with HIV often have stunted growth, delayed puberty and low bone density, and vitamin D deficiency is common in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors want to know if supplements during puberty can improve bone health and reduce later fracture risk.
The trial will enroll 840 children aged 11 to 19 who have had HIV since birth and have taken ART for at least 6 months. They will be randomly assigned to receive either weekly vitamin D3 (20,000 IU) plus daily calcium carbonate (500 mg) or a placebo for 48 weeks, then followed for another 48 weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- The trial is ongoing, so no results are available yet.
- It cannot show whether the supplements work until the data are collected and analysed.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Wellcome Trust; Medical Research Council (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Zimbabwe; University Teaching Hospital, Zambia; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
The paper
- Title
- Vitamin D 3 and calcium carbonate supplementation for adolescents with HIV to reduce musculoskeletal morbidity and immunopathology (VITALITY trial): study protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Dzavakwa NV, Chisenga M, McHugh G, et al (2022). Vitamin D 3 and calcium carbonate supplementation for adolescents with HIV to reduce musculoskeletal morbidity and immunopathology (VITALITY trial): study protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Trials. doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05985-0Free full textPubMed 35081986DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error