Comparing Vitamin D Supplementation Versus Placebo for Urgency Urinary Incontinence: A Pilot Study

Efficacy of high-dose vitamin D supplementation vs. solifenacin or standard urotherapy for overactive bladder dry in children: a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

To investigate the efficacy of high-dose vitamin D supplementation (VDS) plus standard urotherapy (SU) in managing pediatric overactive bladder dry (OAB-dry), specifically in children with (1) vitamin D levels between 20 and 35 ng/mL and (2) heightened baseline symptom severity.

METHODS

In this secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, eligible children (n = 303) were assigned to 8 weeks of VDS + SU group, solifenacin (SOL) + SU group, or SU alone group. The primary outcome was voiding frequency; secondary outcomes included urgency, nocturia, quality of life (QoL), pediatric lower urinary tract symptoms scores, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

Among 303 participants, 197 (65%) had vitamin D levels between 20 and 35 ng/mL, and 119 (39%) exhibited heightened baseline symptom severity. In both subgroups, VDS + SU resulted in significantly greater improvements in voiding frequency compared to SOL + SU and SU alone. In the vitamin D subgroup (20-35 ng/mL), the median difference in voids/day between VDS + SU and SOL + SU was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.0 to 3.0; P = 0.003) and 3.2 compared to SU alone (P < 0.001). In the heightened symptom subgroup, the median difference was 3.0 (95% CI, 2.0 to 4.0; P < 0.001) vs. SOL + SU and 5.0 (95% CI, 4.0 to 6.0; P < 0.001) vs. SU alone. The VDS + SU group generally outperformed the other groups in various secondary outcome measures.

CONCLUSION

High-dose VDS plus SU has significant therapeutic benefit in children with OAB-dry in those with vitamin D levels between 20 and 35 ng/mL and with more severe symptoms, compared to SOL + SU or SU alone.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause : An Evidence Map

BACKGROUND

Women seeking nonhormonal interventions for vulvovaginal, urinary, and sexual symptoms associated with genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) may seek out complementary and alternative medicine or therapies (CAMs).

PURPOSE

To summarize published evidence of CAMs for GSM.

DATA SOURCES

Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL from inception through 11 December 2023.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) 8 weeks or more in duration that evaluated the effectiveness or harms of CAMs for postmenopausal women with GSM and reported 1 or more outcomes of interest, with sample sizes of 20 or more participants randomly assigned per group.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were abstracted by 1 reviewer and verified by a second.

DATA SYNTHESIS

An evidence map approach was used to organize and describe trials. Studies were organized by type of intervention, with narrative summaries for population, study characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. Fifty-seven trials were identified that investigated 39 unique interventions. Studies were typically small (n < 200), and most were done in Iran (k = 24) or other parts of Asia (k = 9). Few trials evaluated similar combinations of populations, interventions, comparators, or outcomes. Most studies (k = 44) examined natural products (that is, herbal or botanical supplements and vitamins), whereas fewer reported on mind and body practices (k = 6) or educational programs (k = 7). Most studies reported 1 or 2 GSM symptoms, mainly sexual (k = 44) or vulvovaginal (k = 30). Tools used to measure outcomes varied widely. Most trials reported on adverse events (k = 33).

LIMITATIONS

Only English-language studies were used. Effect estimates, risk of bias, and certainty of evidence were not assessed.

CONCLUSION

There is a large and heterogeneous literature of CAM interventions for GSM. Trials were small, and few were done in North America. Standardized population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes reporting in future RCTs are needed.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. (PROSPERO: CRD42023400684).

Vitamin D levels and the risk of overactive bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Overactive bladder is treated mainly with behavioral and drug therapy, and symptoms of urinary frequency and incontinence are challenging to eliminate. There is thus a continuous unmet need for new drugs with a substitution effect mechanism.

OBJECTIVE

It not known whether vitamin D deficiency can lead to overactive bladder or urinary incontinence or whether vitamin D supplementation alleviates bladder symptoms. This comprehensive systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether overactive bladder is associated with vitamin D deficiency.

DATA SOURCES

The PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically up to July 3, 2022.

DATA EXTRACTION

Initially, 706 articles were identified in the literature search, of which 13 were included in the systematic review: 4 randomized controlled trials, 3 cohort studies, 3 cross-sectional studies, and 3 case-control studies.

DATA ANALYSIS

An increased risk of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence was observed with vitamin D deficiency (odds ratio [OR] = 4.46; 95%CI, 1.03-19.33; P = 0.046 and OR = 1.30; 95%CI, 1.01-1.66; P = 0.036, respectively). Vitamin D levels were relatively low in patients with overactive bladder or urinary incontinence (SMD = -0.33; 95%CI, -0.61 to -0.06, P = 0.019). On the basis of existing data, the risk of urinary incontinence was reduced by 66% after vitamin D supplementation (OR = 0.34; 95%CI, 0.18-0.66; P = 0.001). Egger test was conducted to assess publication bias, and the results were tested for robustness using a sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence, and vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of urinary incontinence. The development of new strategies to prevent or alleviate bladder symptoms is crucial. Vitamin D supplementation may be gaining recognition as an effective strategy for prevention or alleviation of bladder symptoms such as overactive bladder and incontinence.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022351443.

Total and free 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and risk of urinary incontinence in women participating in Nurses Health Studies I & II

BACKGROUND

Urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) occurs in >40% of older women. Our objective was to examine the relationship of total and free plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and UUI to evaluate vitamin D status as a novel target for prevention of UUI.

METHODS

We conducted a nested case control study using the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHS II. Using stored plasma samples from 2000, we measured total 25(OH)D, free 25(OH)D, and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and examined their relationship to incident UUI from 2000 to 2013. Plasma biomarker levels were categorized as quartiles. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios of UUI were estimated by conditional logistic regression models (with matching by age) across categories of each biomarker and covariates.

RESULTS

The analytic sample included 398 cases of incident UUI and 398 matched controls with a mean age of 50 years. We found a strong correlation of plasma levels of total 25(OH)D with free 25(OH)D (r=0.5). Plasma total 25(OH)D and free 25(OH)D concentrations were negatively correlated with PTH (r=-0.08 AND -0.09, respectively). Overall, we found no evidence that levels of total plasma 25(OH)D, free 25(OH)D, or PTH were related to incident UUI after adjustment for obesity, physical activity, cigarette smoking, menopausal status, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Free plasma 25(OH)D by quartile, as well as total plasma 25(OH)D, was not associated with incident UUI in women. We found that plasma total and free 25(OH)D were highly correlated with each other and inversely correlated with PTH. Plasma free 25(OH)D did not provide additional predictive value in determining risk of UUI.

Treatment of urge incontinence in postmenopausal women: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence and other urinary symptoms tend to be frequent at menopause because of hormonal modifications and aging. Urinary symptoms are associated with the genitourinary syndrome of menopause which is characterized by physical changes of the vulva, vagina and lower urinary tract. The treatment strategies for postmenopausal urinary incontinence are various and may include estrogens, anticholinergics, and pelvic floor muscle training. A comparison of these treatments is difficult due to the heterogeneity of adopted protocols. We systematically reviewed the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on treatment of postmenopausal women with urge incontinence.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed and EMBASE databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting results of treatments for postmenopausal urinary urge incontinence. Odds ratios for improvement of urinary incontinence were calculated using random effect Mantel-Haenszel statistics.

RESULTS

Out of 248 records retrieved, 35 eligible RCTs were assessed for risk of bias and included in the meta-analysis. Compared with placebo, systemic estrogens were associated with decreased odds of improving urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61-0.91, 7 series, 17132 participants, Z = 2.89, P = 0.004, I2 = 72%). In most studies, no significant improvement in urinary symptoms was observed in patients treated with local estrogens, although they showed to be helpful in improving vaginal symptoms. Vitamin D, phytoestrogens and estrogen modulators were not effective in improving symptoms of incontinence and other symptoms of genitourinary menopause syndrome or yielded contradictory results. A randomized controlled trial demonstrated that oxybutynin was significantly better than placebo at improving postmenopausal urgency and urge incontinence. The combination of anticholinergics with local estrogens has not been shown to be more effective than anticholinergics alone in improving urinary incontinence symptoms in postmenopausal women. Physical therapy showed an overall positive outcome on postmenopausal urinary incontinence symptoms, although such evidence should be further validated in the frame of quality RCTs.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence for effective treatment of postmenopausal urinary incontinence is still lacking. Welldesigned large studies having subjective and objective improvement primary endpoints in postmenopausal urinary incontinence are needed. At present, a combination of different treatments tailored to the characteristics of the individual patient can be suggested.

The effect of vitamin D on urgent urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Conflicting results have been reported on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on urinary incontinence (UI). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of consuming vitamin D oral supplements on improving urge UI (UUI) in postmenopausal women with vitamin D deficiency.

METHODS

This randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2019-2020 in postmenopausal women with UUI or nocturia more than once at night with vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/ml. After recording the severity of UI and its impact on the patient's daily life, patients were randomly divided into two groups of 45 patients: one taking vitamin D3 (50,000 IU) tablets and one taking placebo weekly for 8 weeks.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the severity of UI and the frequency of nocturia before treatment. However, after treatment, in the vitamin D group, the severity of UI and the frequency of nocturia significantly reduced. Before treatment, the impact of UI on patients' daily life was reported to be high in more than 70% of patients in both groups, which was not significantly different; however, after treatment, its impact was significantly reduced in the vitamin D group.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the present study showed that in postmenopausal women with UUI or nocturia, weekly use of vitamin D 50,000 IU tablets for 8 weeks can reduce the severity of UI and the frequency of nocturia, and reduce their impact on disruption in daily life.

Current and Emerging Pharmacological Targets and Treatments of Urinary Incontinence and Related Disorders

Overactive bladder syndrome with and without urinary incontinence and related conditions, signs, and disorders such as detrusor overactivity, neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, underactive bladder, stress urinary incontinence, and nocturia are common in the general population and have a major impact on the quality of life of the affected patients and their partners. Based on the deliberations of the subcommittee on pharmacological treatments of the 7th International Consultation on Incontinence, we present a comprehensive review of established drug targets in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome and the aforementioned related conditions and the approved drugs used in its treatment. Investigational drug targets and compounds are also reviewed. We conclude that, despite a range of available medical treatment options, a considerable medical need continues to exist. This is largely because the existing treatments are symptomatic and have limited efficacy and/or tolerability, which leads to poor long-term adherence. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Urinary incontinence and related disorders are prevalent in the general population. While many treatments have been approved, few patients stay on long-term treatment despite none of them being curative. This paper provides a comprehensive discussion of existing and emerging treatment options for various types of incontinence and related disorders.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on urinary incontinence in older women: ancillary findings from a randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Observational studies among older women have associated vitamin D insufficiency with a greater prevalence and incidence of urinary incontinence. However, little is known about the effect of vitamin D supplementation in reducing urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation in reducing the frequency of urinary incontinence in older women.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted an ancillary study of women aged ≥55 years in the Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial, a randomized trial with a 2×2 factorial design. Recruitment of participants started from 2011 to 2014 across 50 US states, and the follow-up of participants ended in January 2018. Randomized treatments in the parent study included (1) vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol) at a dosage of 2000 IU/d, (2) marine omega-3 fatty acids at a dosage of 1 g/d, and (3) matching placebo. Here, we analyzed women according to their randomization to vitamin D supplementation or placebo, regardless of treatment with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Validated frequency of urinary incontinence questions were added in year 2 of the study and were used again in year 5 at the end of trial. Prespecified ancillary outcomes included the prevalence of urinary incontinence at years 2 and 5, along with incident incontinence and progression of incontinence (from lower to higher frequency) from year 2 to year 5. Preplanned subgroup analyses examined the following outcomes: prerandomization of low serum levels of vitamin D (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D<20 ng/mL), incontinence types, weight categories, and African American race.

RESULTS

Among the randomized women who provided urinary incontinence data, 11,646 women at year 2 and 10,527 women at year 5, the mean age was 70 years at year 2, with 29% racial and ethnic minorities. The prevalence of urinary incontinence that occurred at least weekly was 29% at year 2 and increased to 37% at year 5. Vitamin D supplementation compared to with placebo was not associated with lower odds of urinary incontinence occurring at least weekly at year 2 (odds ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.19) or year 5 (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-1.15). Vitamin D supplementation compared to placebo was not associated with lower incidence or progression of urinary incontinence from year 2 to year 5: incidence (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.35) or progression (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.08). Women with prerandomization of low serum levels of vitamin D (n=836) did not have lower odds of the prevalence, incidence, or progression of urinary incontinence. The findings were null in subgroups according to incontinence type, women with obesity, and African American women. Only women with healthy weight randomized to vitamin D had lower odds of progression of urinary incontinence (odds ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.95; P=.01).

CONCLUSION

Vitamin D supplementation compared to placebo for 2 to 5 years was not associated with differences in the prevalence, incidence, or progression of urinary incontinence in older women with and without adequate serum vitamin D levels, with inconsistent differences among subgroups. The findings showed that the broad use of moderate doses of vitamin D supplementation did not reduce urinary incontinence in older women.

The effect of a counseling and training program on the treatment of women with overactive bladder

Anticholinergic drugs and behavioral interventions are effective methods for the treatment of OAB and UUI. This randomized controlled, prospective, and quasi-experimental study determined the effect of healthy lifestyle behavior training, based on the Health Promotion Model (HPM), on the treatment of women with Overactive Bladder (OAB). The study sample included intervention and control groups with a sample size of 100 women diagnosed with OAB who received pharmacological treatment and agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected using an Introductory Information Form, Urinary Diary, OAB Questionnaire (OAB-V8), King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), Healthy Life Style Behavior Scale II (HLSB II), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and 24-hour Pad Test. The intervention group was administered a 45-minute training program based on Pender's HPM. There was a statistically significantly higher level of decrease in urgency (z = -3,259;p = 0,001), nocturia (z = -3,691;p < 0,001), urge urinary incontinence (z = -2,391;p = 0,017), and urinary frequency (χ² = 17,420;p < 0,001) in the intervention group during the posttest period. The study found a significant decrease in the total posttest scores of the women in the intervention group on the OAB-V8 (t = -6.955;p < 0.001), KHQ (t = -5.354;p < 0.001), and BSI (t = -6.463;p < 0.001) scales whereas a statistically significant increase was found in their total score on the HLSB II (t = 9.139;p < 0.001) scale. The study concluded that HLSB training, which was prepared based on HPM, reduced OAB symptoms among women, improved the quality of their lives, changed their HLSBs, and positively affected their psychological symptoms.

Vitamin D Intake and Progression of Urinary Incontinence in Women

OBJECTIVE

To determine if vitamin D intake is associated with reduced progression of urgency urinary incontinence (UI) in women.

METHODS

We used the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) I and NHSII cohorts to evaluate the association of vitamin D intake with progression of urgency UI and mixed UI, from mild-moderate to severe symptoms, from 2004 to 2012 (NHS) and 2005-2013 (NHSII). Intake of vitamin D at study baseline was categorized and updated at the start of each 2-4 year follow-up period. Multivariable-adjusted relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of progression to severe UI were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

At baseline, of the 20,560 older women (age range 58-73 years) in NHS I with mild/moderate urgency or mixed UI, 21% reported oral vitamin D intake of at least 800 IU per day. Among 12,573 middle-aged women (age range 42-59) in NHS II with mild/moderate urgency or mixed UI, 17% reported oral vitamin D intake of at least 800 IU daily. From 2004 to 2012, 4853 incident cases of urgency/mixed UI progression were identified among older women. From 2005 to 2013, 1378 incident cases of urgency/mixed UI progression were identified among middle-aged women. After multivariable adjustment, no significant associations between vitamin D intake and incidence of urgency/mixed UI progression were observed in either cohort (RR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.99-1.23 in older women, RR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.71, 1.10 in middle-aged women).

CONCLUSION

Despite interest in vitamin D as a low-cost strategy to prevent or reduce UI, our findings indicate oral vitamin D may not reduce urgency/mixed UI progression.

Vitamin D intake and the 10-year risk of urgency urinary incontinence in women

Evidence indicates that higher serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels may be associated with decreased prevalence of urgency urinary incontinence (UI), but the impact of vitamin D consumption on development of urgency and mixed UI is unclear. The objective was to assess whether greater vitamin D intake was associated with decreased risk of incident urgency and mixed UI over 10 years using 2 large prospective cohorts of middle-aged and older women. We analyzed 38,101 women from the Nurses' Health Study I (NHS I) and 35,190 women from NHS II who were free of UI at baseline. We followed incident UI, defined as new UI occurring at least monthly, separately by subtype (urgency, mixed, stress UI), from 2002-2012. We categorized vitamin D intake from supplements and diet. We estimated relative risk for developing UI according to vitamin D intake using Cox-proportional hazard models with adjustment for covariates. Median vitamin D intake was 580IU in the older women in NHS I (age range 56-71 at baseline) and 487IU in middle-aged women in NHS II (age range 40-57). Among women taking ≥1000IU of vitamin D, median intake in the older women was 1252IU and 1202IU in the middle-aged women. Among the older women, we found no relation of vitamin D intake to risk of developing UI, across all UI subtypes. In multivariable-adjusted analysis for middle-aged women, the relative risk of developing mixed UI among women taking >1000IU was 0.79 (0.63, 0.99) and for urgency UI was 0.88 (0.71, 1.07), versus <200IU. Risks of developing stress UI were not related to vitamin D intake categories. Overall, we did not find a relationship between vitamin D intake and UI incidence in middle-aged and older women; however, the reported intake was moderate.