Enhancing the Design of Nutrient Clinical Trials for Disease Prevention

Obesity, osteoporosis and sarcopenia present enormous global health and economic challenges, which are exacerbated in aging populations. Singapore is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of osteoporotic hip fractures in the world. A recent study in Singapore has studied complex relationships between fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and bone mass, with significant implications for obesity, frailty, and bone fractures later in life.

Vitamin D is essential for bone health, but also for many roles beyond the musculoskeletal system, including the immune, pulmonary, and cardiovascular systems; pregnancy; autoimmune disorders; and cancer. However, inappropriate or flawed study designs have been frequently found in clinical trials, which led to misleading interpretations.

Evidence from adequately powered epidemiological studies and RCTs in vitamin D–deficient populations shows favorable clinical outcomes, enriching the literature and improves understanding of its physiology and mechanisms. Proper study designs with rigorous methodologies and cautious interpretation of outcomes are crucial, and these principles are equally relevant to other micronutrients and nutrient/nutraceutical research, enhancing the credibility of clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore, and Human Potential Translational Research Programme (HPTRP), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore are organizing a symposium to share key insights on improving nutrient clinical trial design for disease prevention, focusing on vitamin D and related health outcomes.

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Host or Publisher ILSI SEA Region