There are no viable treatments for autoimmune diseases at present

Researchers of the study wrote that- "The clinical importance of these findings is high because these are well-tolerated, nontoxic supplements, and other effective treatments to reduce the incidence of autoimmune diseases are lacking. Additionally, we saw consistent results across autoimmune diseases and increasing effects with time. We are continuing to follow participants for 2 years in an extension study to test the time course of this autoimmune disease reduction effect. Further trials could test these interventions in younger populations and those with high autoimmune disease risk". The research was published in the BMJ.

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Clinical trials are still being conducted

To conduct the Vitamin D and Omega-3 Fish Oil trials, the scientists recruited 25,871 volunteers from all over the USA. 51% of the participants were women over the age of 55, while the remaining participants were men over 50. Every participant was told to keep their vitamin D intake from outside sources to no more than 800 international units (IU) per day and avoid taking fish oil supplements if they had a history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or renal failure.

Participants were then divided into two treatment groups at random. Vitamin D (2,000 IU) and fish oil (a 1-g tablet) were given to the subjects every day, along with a placebo. Soybean oil or olive oil were used in the placebos. Participants' vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid levels were measured using blood samples drawn at the start of the study and periodically throughout the course of it.

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The researchers kept tabs on the subjects for 5 years

Around 81% consumed at least two-thirds of their supplements by the time the research was completed. Those taking vitamin D saw a 40% increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels over the course of a year. However, in the placebo group, there were minor changes.

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It was concluded that taking both vitamin D and omega-3 fish oil supplements together is beneficial

People who took omega-3 supplements had 54.7% more omega-3 in their blood, while those who took placebos had only 2% more omega-3 in their blood. The group that consumed vitamin D supplements was found to be at a lower risk of autoimmune disease development by 22% compared to the vitamin D placebo group, regardless of whether both groups were also taking fish oil. When vitamin D and omega-3 fish oil were compared to a placebo, the researchers discovered a 30% reduction in the chance of getting an autoimmune disease when the supplements were taken combined.

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