The Role of Vitamin D in Female Reproductive Tract Immunity
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02186535 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : July 10, 2014
Last Update Posted : January 8, 2016
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Vitamin D Deficiency | Dietary Supplement: Vitamin D and Calcium | Phase 1 |
This outpatient open label study will assess the impact of 8 weeks of daily versus weekly VitD and calcium supplementation on measures of cervicovaginal (CV) innate immune function, including antimicrobial and proinflammatory gene expression, Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated responses, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of immune cell markers, and microbiota in premenopausal women with insufficient serum VitD levels at baseline.
Women will be seen in 3 study visits and will be contacted by one scheduled follow-up telephone call after their final study visit. Volunteers will be consented at Visit 1 and undergo procedures to confirm they are eligible to continue in the study.
Once it has been confirmed that the participant meets all of the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria, baseline blood and genital samples will be taken in the luteal phase at Visit 2. The participant will then be given their first dose of VitD 4000 IU daily or 50,000 IU weekly in capsule form, which they will then administer for 8 weeks. Participants will also administer 1000 mg of calcium daily. Participants will return upon completion of supplementation for repeat of blood and genital samples (Visit 3).
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 22 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Official Title: | The Role of Vitamin D in Female Reproductive Tract Immunity |
Study Start Date : | August 2014 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | July 2015 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | July 2015 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Daily dosing
Daily oral capsule of Vitamin D in 4000 IU/day with daily oral capsules of 1000mg of calcium
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Dietary Supplement: Vitamin D and Calcium |
weekly dosing
Oral capsule Vitamin D 50,000 IU/week with a oral capsule of 1000mg of calcium, daily
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Dietary Supplement: Vitamin D and Calcium |
- Vitamin D concentrations in serum and vaginal secretions [ Time Frame: over 8 weeks of use ]Assess the impact of daily versus weekly Vitamin D and calcium supplementation regimens on Vitamin D concentrations in serum and on soluble markers innate mucosal immunity and inflammatory response in cervicovaginal secretions.
- Assessment of Gene Expression [ Time Frame: over 8 weeks of use ]Assess gene expression of epithelial factors associated with innate immune response in CV tissues before and after VitD and calcium supplementation.
- Assessment of immune cell activation and phenotype by IHC in CV tissues [ Time Frame: over 8 weeks of use ]Assess immune cell activation and phenotype by IHC in CV tissues before and after VitD and calcium supplementation.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 21 Years to 50 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Serum 25(OH)D ≤ 25ng/mL (62 nmol/L)
- In good health, as evidenced by history and procedures at screening visits without any clinically significant systemic disease.
- Not at risk of an STI, meaning: In a monogamous heterosexual or same sex relationship with a partner who is not known to be HIV positive and has no known risks for STIs, or Sexually abstinent
- Willing and able to comply with study procedures
- 21 to 50 years of age
- Not at risk for pregnancy, meaning: Protected from pregnancy due to surgical sterilization of participant and or her sexual partner, Consistent condom use, In a same sex relationship or, Abstinent from sexual activity and planning to remain abstinent for the duration of the study
- Regular menstrual cycles (every 21 - 35 days) for the past two cycles, per participant report
- Willing to use sunscreen of SPF15 or higher when exposed to the sun for at least 15 minutes, and to avoid use of non-study Vitamin D, calcium, and multivitamin supplementation.
Exclusion Criteria:
- A clinically significant history of an abnormal Pap test (by written report) in the past year that has not been evaluated and/or treated, if indicated, according to standard guidelines
- Surgery or biopsy of the vagina or cervix within 14 days
- Current STI or lower genital tract infection including HIV-1, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Neisseria Gonorrhoeae (NG), Hepatitis B, yeast vaginitis or bacterial vaginosis (BV) (by Nugent score of 7 - 10); this does not include asymptomatic HSV or human papilloma virus (HPV)
- Current presence of vulvar, anal and/or vaginal genital warts
- Current tobacco use of any amount
- Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥ 35 kg/m2
- History of sensitivity/allergy to any component of the study product, topical anesthetic, or allergy to silver nitrate and/or Monsel's solution
- Known bleeding disorder that could lead to prolonged or continuous bleeding with biopsy, or taking anticoagulant drugs
- Grade 2 or higher laboratory abnormality, per the August 2009 update of the DAIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adverse Events
- Systemic use in the last two weeks or anticipated use during the study of any of the following: corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, anticoagulants or other drugs known to prolong bleeding and/or clotting, antifungals, antivirals (e.g., acyclovir or valacyclovir) or antiretrovirals (e.g., Viread). Note: Participants should avoid NSAIDS except for treatment of dysmenorrhea during menses. Participants may use acetaminophen on an as-needed but not daily basis during the study.
- Known risk factors for hypercalcemia (e.g. malignancy or granulomatous disease) or malabsorption syndromes (e.g. celiac disease, radiation enteritis, active inflammatory bowel disease).
- Other conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would constitute contraindications to participation in the study or would compromise the ability to comply with study protocols, such as any major chronic illness including but not limited to cancer, serious autoimmune disease, metabolic disorders or a major psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia)
- Current participation in any other drug or device study, or any study which, in the opinion of the investigator, would jeopardize interpretation of results of this study
- Use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) in last six months
- Use of any other hormonal contraceptive method (oral, transdermal, transvaginal, implant, or intrauterine device) without 2 subsequent, normal menses since stopping hormonal contraceptives
- Current use of copper IUD
- Currently pregnant or pregnancy within the past 3 months
- Currently breastfeeding or having breastfed an infant in the last two months

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02186535
United States, Virginia | |
Eastern Virginia Medical School CONRAD Clinical Research Center | |
Norfolk, Virginia, United States, 23507 |
Principal Investigator: | Andrea Thurman, M.D. | CONRAD |
Responsible Party: | CONRAD |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02186535 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
A14-131 |
First Posted: | July 10, 2014 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 8, 2016 |
Last Verified: | January 2016 |
Vitamin D Deficiency Avitaminosis Deficiency Diseases Malnutrition Nutrition Disorders Vitamin D |
Calcium Vitamins Micronutrients Physiological Effects of Drugs Calcium-Regulating Hormones and Agents Bone Density Conservation Agents |