High-dose vitamin D for bone and muscle loss in older men on hormone therapy
Official title: High-dose Vitamin D Supplementation for ADT-Induced Bone Loss in Older Prostate Cancer Patients
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11237584 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Older men on androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer will receive higher-dose vitamin D to help protect their bones and muscles.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | December 17, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $638,258 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA258349-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11237584 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men aged 65 and older with prostate cancer who are currently receiving androgen-deprivation therapy are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People not on ADT, women, younger men, or those with conditions like severe kidney disease or high blood calcium may not be eligible or benefit.
What this research studies
If you are an older man receiving ADT for prostate cancer, the project gives higher-dose vitamin D (for example, 50,000 IU once a week) and monitors vitamin D blood levels, bone density scans, muscle strength, balance, and falls. ADT causes big drops in testosterone that speed bone and muscle loss and increase fracture risk, and routine low-dose vitamin D hasn't protected against this. You would come to the University of Rochester for regular blood tests and clinic visits so researchers can see if higher vitamin D levels help preserve bone and muscle. The study aims to find a tolerable, effective dose that can lower falls and fractures in men on ADT.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, this could reduce bone loss, falls, fractures, and muscle weakness in older men on ADT.
How similar studies have gone: Low-dose vitamin D trials in ADT patients have not prevented bone loss, but higher-dose vitamin D has increased blood levels and improved bone outcomes in other populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peppone, Luke Joseph — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Peppone, Luke Joseph
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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High-dose Vitamin D to prevent bone loss in older prostate cancer patients on hormone therapy
This study is looking at whether taking high doses of vitamin D can help older men with prostate cancer who are on hormone therapy keep their bones strong and improve their strength and balance, making it less likely for them to have fractures or falls.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.