Effectiveness of vitamin D2 supplementation on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and other metabolic indices in menopausal Thai women: a randomized-controlled trial

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of vitamin D2 supplementation with ergocalciferol on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level and other cardio-metabolic indices in menopausal Thai women. Materials and methods A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at the menopause clinic of a university hospital in Thailand from May 2017 to 2018. Participants were 80 postmenopausal women randomly assigned to treatment (N = 40, receiving vitamin D2 40,000 IU/week) or control (N = 40, receiving placebo) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was hsCRP level, and secondary outcomes were cardio-metabolic profiles and 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease using the Framingham risk score. The changes from baseline to week-12 (Delta) of all outcomes were analyzed using a modified intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Results The vitamin D2 (N = 39) and placebo (N = 37) groups were comparable in all baseline characteristics. The hsCRP level was significantly reduced in the vitamin D2 group (Delta of -0.39 +/- 1.30 mg/L, p = .024) but not in the placebo group (Delta of -0.15 +/- 1.15 mg/L, p = .521). However, the Delta of hsCRP had no statistical difference between groups; neither did the Delta of other cardio-metabolic parameters. Conclusion In menopausal Thai women, vitamin D2 supplementation with ergocalciferol 40,000 IU/week for 12 weeks can reduce hsCRP level; and the treatment might be superior to placebo. However, the hsCRP levels after 12 weeks between both groups were not statistically different. SYNOPSIS Vitamin D2 supplementation in menopausal Thai women can reduce hsCRP level and might be superior to placebo.