Impact of Omega-3 and Vitamin D Supplementation on Bone Turnover Markers in Children with Leukemia: Follow-Up During and After Supplementation

Background/Objective: In patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), it has been demonstrated that the treatment has a negative effect on bone health. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs-ω3) may attenuate bone resorption. We evaluated the effects of LCPUFAs-ω3, vitamin D, and calcium supplementation on bone turnover markers and changes in vitamin D concentrations during 6 weeks of supplementation and 6 weeks post-intervention follow-up in pediatric patients with ALL. Methods: Thirty-six pediatric patients with ALL were randomly assigned to the ω3VDCa group (100 mg/kg/d LCPUFAs-ω3+4,000 IU vitamin D+1,000 mg calcium) or the VDCa group (4,000 IU vitamin D+1,000 mg calcium) for 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected to determine vitamin D (25(OH)D), PTH, ICTP and TRAP-5b (biomarkers of bone resorption) and osteocalcin (OC, a biomarker of bone production) levels at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks after supplementation. The vitamin D analysis was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer, and PTH and bone turnover markers were measured by ELISA. Results: The 25(OH)D concentration increased in both groups (ω3VDCa group: 19.4 ng/mL vs. 44.0 ng/mL, p< 0.0001; VDCa group: 15.3 ng/mL vs. 42.8 ng/mL, p=0.018) and remained significantly higher at 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, ICTP showed lower concentrations in the ω3VDCa group than in the VDCa group (0.74 ng/mL vs. 1.05 ng/mL, p=0.024). Conclusions: Combined omega-3 and 4,000 IU vitamin D supplementation for 6 weeks had a positive effect on bone health, as indicated by serum ICTP, with no effect on serum 25(OH)D levels over vitamin D supplementation alone.