Conditions: HIV
Keywords: HIV Postmenopausal women Vitamin D
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 85
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of vitamin D on measures of bone health and immune function in HIV infected postmenopausal women. The investigators prior research with this population revealed that low vitamin D levels are very common. Prior research with this population also revealed that Vitamin D is necessary for the body to absorb calcium and is important for the health of the bones. When vitamin D levels are low, there are increased risks of bone loss, muscle weakness, falls and fractures. Low levels of vitamin D have also been associated with impaired immune function. This study will help us learn whether two different doses of vitamin D will improve bone health and immune function.

Detailed description:
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of vitamin D repletion on rates of bone loss and indices of immune function in HIV+ postmenopausal women. Lower baseline serum Vitamin D levels, as assessed by measuring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) were associated with a trend toward more bone loss. In addition, the investigators found that despite providing supplements that contained approximately 600 IU vitamin D, serum 25-OHD did not increase during the first year. Provision of adequate calcium and vitamin D is the cornerstone of effective prevention and therapy of osteoporosis. HIV-infected patients may be at increased risk of having vitamin D deficiency because they take several medications that may interfere with vitamin D action. Therefore, the investigators will recruit 100 HIV infected postmenopausal women for this study who are on a stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen and randomize them to receive 1000 or 3000 IU of vitamin D daily. The subjects will be followed closely for one year to monitor compliance and changes in bone health and immune function.

Arms:
arm 1: Placebo vitamin D3 capsule daily plus vitamin supplements that contains 1000 IU vitamin D3 and 1000 mg calcium carbonate daily. Total daily vitamin D3 dose = 1000 IU. arm 2: 2000 IU vitamin D3 daily plus vitamin supplements that contains 1000 IU vitamin D3 and 1000 mg calcium carbonate daily. Total daily vitamin D3 dose = 3000 IU.

Interventions: intervention 1: Vitamin D3 intervention 2: Placebo intervention 3: Vitamin Supplements
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 2000 mg QD intervention 2: An inactive treatment that is intended to provide baseline measurements for the experimental protocol of a clinical trial, in this case, the vitamin D3. intervention 3: Specially formulated supplements (Tishcon, Inc.) that contain 500 mg of calcium (carbonate) and 500 IU of vitamin D3 to be taken twice daily with breakfast and dinner (1000 mg of elemental calcium and 1000 IU of vitamin D).

Protocol document: