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Respiratory infection
Randomised controlled trial of perinatal vitamin D supplementation to prevent early-onset acute respiratory infections among Australian First Nations children: the ‘D-Kids’ study protocol
  1. Michael J Binks1,
  2. Amy S Bleakley1,
  3. Susan J Pizzutto1,
  4. Michelle Lamberth1,2,
  5. Verity Powell1,2,
  6. Jane Nelson1,
  7. Adrienne Kirby3,
  8. Peter S Morris1,4,
  9. David Simon2,
  10. E Kim Mulholland5,6,
  11. Geetha Rathnayake7,
  12. Amanda J Leach1,
  13. Heather D'Antoine1,
  14. Paul V Licciardi5,8,
  15. Tom Snelling9,10 and
  16. Anne B Chang1,11
  1. 1Child Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
  2. 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Darwin Hospital, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia
  3. 3National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney CAR, Glebe, New South Wales, Australia
  4. 4Department of Paediatrics, Royal Darwin Hospital, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia
  5. 5New Vaccines Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  6. 6Epidemiology and Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  7. 7Virtus Diagnostics, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  8. 8Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne VCCC, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  9. 9School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  10. 10Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
  11. 11Centre for Children's Health Research, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Michael J Binks; Michael.Binks{at}menzies.edu.au

Abstract

Introduction Globally, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. While ARI-related mortality is low in Australia, First Nations infants are hospitalised with ARIs up to nine times more often than their non-First Nations counterparts. The gap is widest in the Northern Territory (NT) where rates of both acute and chronic respiratory infection are among the highest reported in the world. Vitamin D deficiency is common among NT First Nations neonates and associated with an increased risk of ARI hospitalisation. We hypothesise that perinatal vitamin D supplementation will reduce the risk of ARI in the first year of life.

Methods and analysis ‘D-Kids’ is a parallel (1:1), double-blind (allocation concealed), randomised placebo-controlled trial conducted among NT First Nations mother–infant pairs. Pregnant women and their babies (n=314) receive either vitamin D or placebo. Women receive 14 000 IU/week or placebo from 28 to 34 weeks gestation until birth and babies receive 4200 IU/week or placebo from birth until age 4 months. The primary outcome is the incidence of ARI episodes receiving medical attention in the first year of life. Secondary outcomes include circulating vitamin D level and nasal pathogen prevalence. Tertiary outcomes include infant immune cell phenotypes and challenge responses. Blood, nasal swabs, breast milk and saliva are collected longitudinally across four study visits: enrolment, birth, infant age 4 and 12 months. The sample size provides 90% power to detect a 27.5% relative reduction in new ARI episodes between groups.

Ethics and dissemination This trial is approved by the NT Human Research Ethics Committee (2018-3160). Study outcomes will be disseminated to participant families, communities, local policy-makers, the broader research and clinical community via written and oral reports, education workshops, peer-reviewed journals, national and international conferences.

Trial registration number ACTRN12618001174279.

  • Respiratory Infection
  • Bacterial Infection
  • Viral infection
  • Pneumonia
  • Infection Control
  • Innate Immunity

Data availability statement

No data are available. This is a protocol paper, and therefore, there are no associated data.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2023-001646

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    WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC

    • Vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L) is common among Australian First Nations infants at birth and linked to an increased risk of acute respiratory infection (ARI) hospitalisation in the first year of life. The most recent systematic review of clinical trials suggests that vitamin D supplementation could significantly reduce the risk of childhood ARI.

    WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

    • ‘D-Kids’ is the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate vitamin D supplementation as a novel strategy for reducing early-onset ARIs among Australian First Nations infants. This study extends the best local and international evidence, implementing a practical weekly vitamin D dose over known high-risk period of both vitamin D deficiency and ARI. Importantly, this RCT will monitor vitamin D levels through pregnancy and infancy and determine whether supplementation impacts the paediatric immune response and the acquisition of respiratory pathogens.

    HOW THIS STUDY MIGHT AFFECT RESEARCH, PRACTICE OR POLICY

    • This trial will validate the utility of vitamin D against infant ARI, guide best practice for supplementation and provide much needed local evidence on vitamin D reference ranges in pregnancy and infancy.

    Introduction

    Background and rationale

    Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) remain the greatest global cause of childhood morbidity and mortality.1 The largest burden occurs among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.1 In Australia, First Nations children are hospitalised with ARIs up to nine times more often than other children.2 The gap is widest in the Northern Territory (NT) where, despite government funded healthcare, high vaccine coverage and almost universal early breast feeding,3 4 rates of early-onset pneumonia (20% hospitalised in first year),4 otitis media (OM) (90% at age 6 months)5 and chronic suppurative lung disease (1 in 68 in Central Australia)6 7 are among the highest reported in the world. Further, the burden of ARI hospitalisation in the NT has changed little over the last two decades.3 8 Slow progress in improving health services and addressing the social determinants of health drives the need for novel, effective, community endorsed, evidence-based interventions to reduce the burden of ARIs in the region. Oral supplementation of vitamin D, integral to immune function,9 10 is one such intervention that could reduce infants’ susceptibility to ARIs.11 12

    Vitamin D is a steroid-like molecule generated predominantly on exposure of skin to sunlight with the remainder coming from the diet.13 Cutaneously generated (vitamin D3) or ingested vitamin D (vitamin D2 or D3) is hydroxylated by the liver into 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25OHD) which is considered the best measure of vitamin D status. The active hormonal form of vitamin D, 1,25 hydroxy-vitamin D3 (1,25OH2D3) is produced by the kidney or locally by specialised cells of other systems as required. Both 25OHD and 1,25OH2D3 are transported in the circulation by the vitamin D binding protein.14 Active vitamin D regulates gene expression via the vitamin D receptor (VDR).15 Conventionally, vitamin D is known for its role in regulating calcium metabolism though the effects of vitamin D and its metabolites are much broader.16

    Most immune cells express both the VDR and the enzymes (1α-hydroxylase) necessary to locally convert circulating 25OHD into active 1,25OH2D3. As such, immune cell responses are affected by the availability of circulating 25OHD. On the activation of innate immune cells, 1,25OH2D3 is involved in the modulation of over 200 human genes (~1% of the total)17 including those involved in pathogen sensing and clearance (eg, ↑ cathelicidin), and control of inflammatory responses (eg, ↓IFNγ, ↑IL10).9 Vitamin D also influences adaptive immunity by modulating dendritic cell (DC) and T cell phenotypes, promoting a tolerogenic T-helper 2 response and inducing the expansion of regulatory T cells.18 The net effects of vitamin D against infection appear to be simultaneous promotion of antimicrobial activity, and control of excessive inflammatory and adaptive immune responses.

    Vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L) is prevalent in many populations globally and has been repeatedly linked to an increased risk of childhood ARI.19–23 Importantly, pregnancy is a period of increased demand for vitamin D. Levels tend to decline towards term24–27 and breast milk offers a relatively poor source of vitamin D.28 As such, vitamin D deficiency is common at birth and it can take up to 6 months for infants to achieve sufficiency.24 27 Our prospective cohort study in northern Australia demonstrated that mean cord blood 25OHD levels were 48% lower than maternal 25OHD levels at 32-week gestation, resulting in a high rate of neonatal deficiency (44% <50 nmol/L).24 Importantly, this study found that mean cord blood vitamin D was significantly lower among infants who were subsequently hospitalised with an ARI in the first year of life than in those who were not (37 nmol/L v 56 nmol/L; p=0.025).24

    To address deficiency in pregnancy, doses of 2000–4000 IU/day from 12 to 16 weeks gestation have been shown to be safe and effective.29 For infants with deficiency, supplementation with 400 IU (for levels between 30 and 50 nmol/L) to 1000 IU (for <30 nmol/L) per day for 3 months is recommended depending on the severity of deficiency. Infant doses up to 1000 IU/day27 and bolus doses of 100 000 IU30 have been used safely. It remains unclear whether vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy and infancy can reduce the burden of early-onset infant ARIs.

    A 2017 meta-analysis of individual-level data from 10 933 participants in 25 randomised controlled trials (RCTs)12 and subsequent 2021 update of aggregate data over 48 000 participants in 46 RCTs31 found that vitamin D supplementation reduced the odds of experiencing at least one ARI episode by 12% (OR 0.88 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.96))12 and 8% (OR 0.92 (95% CI 0.86 to 0.99)),31 respectively, compared with placebo. This reduction was found despite considerable population (ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, baseline vitamin D) and design (vitamin D dosage/duration and outcome measure) heterogeneity. Importantly, the data available at the commencement of our study suggested both daily and weekly vitamin D dosing were effective against ARI (OR 0.81 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.91)).12 More recently, the largest effects have been seen in those receiving daily supplementation of ≥400 IU (OR 0.70 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.89)).31 In general, children 1–15 years of age appear to receive the most benefit (OR 0.71 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.93)) and large bolus doses at monthly or greater intervals have been ineffective.12 31 A New Zealand RCT found that compared with placebo controls, perinatal vitamin D supplementation (mothers from 27-week gestation to birth, infants from birth to age 6 months) maintained infant vitamin D status >50 nmol/L at birth and in infancy27 and significantly reduced ARI primary care presentations among infants (relative risk reduction of 12% (≥1 ARI, 99% vs 87%,) and incidence rate reduction of 37.5% (4.0 vs 2.5 ARI/child/year)) in the 12-month postsupplementation (infant age 6–18 months).11 Overall, few of the reviewed RCTs dosed weekly (6/46) or during the perinatal or neonatal period (4/46)12 31 where deficiency is common.24 26 27 As far as we are aware, none have done both.

    Objectives

    The primary aim of our ‘D-Kids’ RCT is to determine whether practical weekly vitamin D supplementation (compared with placebo) of mothers (from 28+0 to 34+6 weeks gestation until birth) and their infants (from birth until age 4 months) reduces the incidence of ARI (hospital or primary care presentations) among high-risk Australian First Nations infants during their first 12 months of life.

    The secondary aims are to determine whether the supplementation strategy above: (A) reduces vitamin D deficiency at birth and infancy; (B) enhances neonatal immune responses and (C) reduces the prevalence of nasal respiratory pathogens in infancy.

    Hypotheses

    We hypothesise that perinatal vitamin D supplementation will reduce the incidence of ARIs (vs placebo); maintain vitamin D levels >50 nmol/L at birth and throughout infancy; promote optimal immune responses to pathogen challenge; and reduce the frequency of pathogens detected in the nose.

    Methods

    Trial design and setting

    ‘D-Kids’ is a parallel (1:1), double-blind, allocation concealed, randomised, placebo-RCT of weekly perinatal vitamin D supplementation (figure 1). The trial is being conducted among First Nations families in urban and remote communities of Australia’s NT. The NT is sparsely populated with approximately 229 000 residents spread across 1.4 million km² (0.16 people per km²).32 Approximately 70% of NT First Nations families reside in remote communities.32 Recruitment started in February 2019 and the study is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024.

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    The ‘D-Kids’ randomised controlled trial, flow diagram. (1 IU=0.025 µg or 25 ng). Evaluable sample size: *Intention to treat; #Per protocol. IU, international unit.

    Patient and public involvement

    The ‘D-Kids’ trial was built on respectful engagement and longstanding relationships with Australian First Nations families, hospitals and healthcare centres. Prior to study conduct, we sought the views of First Nations community councils and parents regarding the trial intervention and design acceptability. Our small prestudy survey of local families indicated a willingness to participate in such a study (24/25, 96%). Formal approval for this RCT was received from all communities involved and we have implemented a First Nations Reference Group model of governance. Importantly, the study team includes First Nations investigators, clinicians, health practitioners and trainees.

    Eligibility criteria

    Inclusion criteria

    Pregnant First Nations women with a current gestation of 28+0 to 34+6 weeks, aged 17–40 years (inclusive) residing in a participating community and intending to do so until their infant reaches 12 months of age. Eligibility includes dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancies and previously enrolled mothers.

    Exclusion criteria

    Enrolment in other research that could influence the outcomes of this study, monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies, current use of prescribed vitamin D in pregnancy >400 IU/day (or equivalent), current self-supplementation with vitamin D >400 IU/day, current use of illicit or cytotoxic drugs (excluding marijuana and alcohol), antenatal hypercalcaemia in this pregnancy (serum calcium >2.8 mmol/L or a urinary calcium:creatinine ratio >1 on two occasions), uncontrolled thyroid disorders, chronic kidney disease (≥stage 4), known anaphylactic allergy or a history of or current kidney/bladder stones.

    Additional criteria

    Obstetrician approval is necessary for mothers with a history of >2 preterm births at <34 weeks gestation, DCDA twin and other high-risk pregnancies. Paediatrician approval is sought for ongoing infant study participation if born <36 weeks, admitted to the intensive or special care units, discharged on vitamin D 400 IU/day (Pentavite) or found to have a congenital anomaly. Babies born <36 weeks gestation and entering the special or intensive care nursery will not receive any study medicine until cleared to do so by the special care clinical team.

    Intervention

    Eligible mother–infant pairs are randomised with equal probability to receive either weekly vitamin D (coconut oil plus cholecalciferol) or placebo (coconut oil only).

    Both liquid active and placebo study medicines are manufactured and supplied by Ddrops, Ontario, Canada. Ddrops recommends storage in an upright position between 5°C and 30°C though the product has passed long term stability tests at 40°C. Stock medicine bottles and prefilled syringe doses (capped and placed in a labelled envelope) were both stored in the Menzies School of Health Research (MSHR) pharmacy at ambient temperature (approximately 21°C) prior to dosing. Mothers who received doses for self-administration were instructed to keep them in a secure, unrefrigerated location inside their house.

    The maternal vitamin D dose is 14 000 IU/week (equivalent to 2000 IU/day); the infant dose is 4200 IU/week (equivalent to 600 IU/day). Mothers vitamin D or placebo commences at enrolment (28+0 to 34+6 weeks gestation) and continues until delivery (table 1, figure 1). Infant vitamin D or placebo commences at birth and continues until 4 months of age. Infants discharged from hospital with a recommendation to take oral vitamin D (400 IU/day) receive a reduced vitamin D dose of 3000 IU/week (equivalent to 430 IU/day).

    View this table:
    Table 1

    Participant timeline

    Study medicines are self-administered orally via prefilled syringes (mother: 0.4 mL; infant 0.2 mL). though study staff assist as requested. Doses are ideally taken 7 days apart. A dose delayed more than 11 days is considered a missed dose and the next dose taken as scheduled. There is no catch up for missed doses and >3 consecutive missed doses is considered a protocol deviation.

    Adherence

    Participant retention and adherence to the protocol are facilitated through regular contact via telephone, short message service, clinic or home visits. Contact is weekly during dosing (starting 7 days from previous dose) then monthly thereafter until the final study visit. A maximum of three consecutive days of contact are attempted for each scheduled visit or dose. Where possible, ingestion of study medicine is supervised by clinic, hospital or study staff. Unsupervised, self-administered doses are verified by phone. When dosing is complete the remaining volume of the used bottle is recorded, and it is stored securely and separately from the unused medicines. Empty dosing syringes are not collected.

    Relevant concomitant care

    ‘D-Kids’ is a pragmatic trial. Outside the eligibility criteria all concomitant care and interventions will be allowed unless a specific contraindication to vitamin D therapy arises and discontinuation is recommended.

    Criteria for discontinuing

    Participants can withdraw from the study at any time: either entirely (no further medication, visits or collection of information) or partially (withdraw from medication and/or study visits). Partial withdrawals continue to contribute passive follow-up data (ie, medical record reviews in line with the primary study outcomes).

    Outcomes

    Primary outcome

    The primary outcome is the incidence of ARI episodes receiving medical attention in the first 12 months of the infant’s life. ARI episodes are identified via electronic medical records using established methods.33–35 Our ARI case definition encompasses any episode of hospital or primary healthcare documented in the medical records as either an acute lower respiratory infection, acute upper respiratory infection or OM. Associated signs, symptoms and observations are comprehensively documented for each ARI episode. Clinical case definitions and diagnostic algorithms are described in detail in online supplemental material 1. ARI episodes are considered unique if separated by ≥14 days. For hospitalisations, this gap begins at the previous discharge date.

    Secondary outcomes

    Pneumonia, bronchiolitis and OM (incidence) will be analysed as specific ARI subgroups (online supplemental material 1). Hospitalisation, antibiotic and oxygen therapy will be used as measures of severity.

    Circulating 25OHD concentrations are measured in maternal blood at baseline (≤34+6 weeks) and at birth, in cord blood, and in infant blood at birth, 4 and 12 months, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as described previously.36 37 Blood samples for vitamin D analysis include both plasma and dried blood spots (DBS). DBS-based 25OHD concentrations will be adjusted for haematocrit as necessary.38 Vitamin D levels <50 nmol/L are considered deficient.

    The prevalence of nasal pathogens will be determined via nasal swabs, collected from infants at ages 4 and 12 months. Swabs will be screened for key respiratory bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi)) and viruses (RSV) using WHO culture39 and standardised RT-PCR methods, respectively.40 41

    Tertiary outcomes

    Immune function will be assessed through analysis of whole blood, isolated cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs),42 plasma, breast milk and saliva samples. Immune cell populations will be characterised at birth (cord blood, CBMCs) and infant age 4 months (venous blood) using flow cytometry.43 CBMC-mediated immune responses to in vitro pathogen challenge will be assessed as previously described.42 Immune markers will be measured directly in infant plasma and saliva samples at birth and age 4 months using ELISA.42 Maternal pertussis vaccine induced antibodies will be measured in cord blood plasma and breast milk collected at birth using ELISA.44 Infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) induced antibodies will be measured in saliva and blood samples at birth and 4 months using ELISA.45 Given the explanatory and mechanistic nature, immunological outcomes will be presented separately to the main outcomes.

    Future outcomes

    Where volumes allow, blood aliquots will be stored in RNA preservative (RNA later, Invitrogen) for further characterisation of immune effector genes. Circulating calcium levels (via routine pathology services), breast milk vitamin D levels (via an adapted HPLC method)38 and polymorphisms in key vitamin D pathway genes46 (eg, the vitamin D receptor gene, VDR) will also be evaluated. Stool samples are also collected (OMNIgene, DNA Genotek) from a subset of participants for gut microbiome analysis.47 48 Additional funding has been secured (NHMRC 2014930) for follow-up of infant lung function to age 6 years.

    Recruitment strategies

    ‘D-Kids’ partners with local NT hospitals, community healthcare and pathology services. These services facilitate recruitment (and follow-up) through notification of pregnant women receiving care at their site. Once identified the study team engage potential participants at antenatal care visits.

    Study visits

    Enrolment, study intervention, follow-up (table 1) and biological sampling (table 2) are achieved through four main study visits.

    View this table:
    Table 2

    Sample collection summary

    Visit 0, screening: Families are approached during antenatal appointments (20+0 to 34+6 weeks gestation) at participating hospitals and community healthcare clinics and screened for interest and basic eligibility (maternal and gestational age, ethnicity, community of residence).

    Visit 1, enrolment: Pregnant mothers are eligible for enrolment at 28+0 to 34+6 weeks gestation. At this visit, we provide a detailed explanation of the study rationale and requirements using plain language study material (including a participant information sheet, pictorial flipchart and consent form). First Nations team members translate materials as necessary. Interested families are formally invited to participate in the study. With written informed consent and confirmation of eligibility, mothers are enrolled and randomly allocated to the intervention or placebo arm. A baseline blood sample is collected prior to supervised administration of the first dose of study medicine.

    Visit 2, birth: At delivery, cord blood is collected by the attending obstetricians or midwives and transported to the laboratory for processing within 24 hours. Study staff visit mothers and their babies within 14 days of birth. The visit coincides with the end of the maternal supplementation. Blood and breast milk (at least 3 days post partum) are collected from mothers. Blood and saliva are collected from neonates. Infant study medicine is commenced, and the first dose is administered.

    Visit 3, infant age 4 months: Families are visited when infants are 3.5–6 months of age, coinciding with the end of the infant supplementation period (16th week post partum). An infant blood, nasal swab and saliva sample are collected.

    Visit 4, infant age 12 months: The final study visit occurs between infant ages 11–18 months. An infant blood and nasal swab are collected. Families receive a small thankyou gift for their contribution.

    Routine data are collected at each visit, including personal, household and community demographics, medical and vaccination history, smoke exposure, time spent indoors and use of vitamin D or other supplements, breastfeeding status and infant growth metrics. Serious adverse events (SAEs) and clinical outcomes are monitored via maternal and infant medical records (hospital and primary care) throughout follow-up.

    Sample size

    Our sample size of 314 (figure 1) is expected to provide 90% ‘intention-to-treat’ and 80% ‘per-protocol’ study power to detect a 27.5% relative reduction11 in new ARI episodes between those receiving vitamin D supplementation (2.54/year) compared with placebo (3.50/year). Power calculations are based on local ARI rates,3 8 49 14% non-compliance, 3% lost to follow-up and assume the outcome data fit a negative binomial distribution (dispersion factor, k=0.4).50 Our RCT’s predicted effect size is consistent with a similar New Zealand study by Grant et al.11 We expect a low drop-out rate because the primary outcome is informed by passively collected medical record data for each child.

    Assignment of interventions

    Sequence generation

    Sequential randomisation codes were computer-generated using permuted blocks (two blocks of differing sizes), stratified by community (urban and remote). The allocation ratio within these strata is 1:1 (vitamin D: placebo). There is one random allocation per mother–infant pair.

    Allocation concealment

    An independent study statistician generated the randomisation codes. Medication bottles are labelled by an independent clinical pharmacist from Royal Darwin Hospital. Labels incorporate a clear specification for mother or infant to avoid mix-up. Sequentially labelled mother and infant bottle pairs are stored in strata-specific boxes at room temperature in a secure facility. Active and placebo study medicine bottles and administration syringes are identical. Liquid medicines are indistinguishable in appearance and taste.

    Allocation implementation

    Good Clinical Practice (GCP) trained research nurses or First Nations health practitioners allocate the study medicine to each mother–infant pair by selecting the next sequentially labelled (prerandomised) study medication from the appropriate stratification group. The allocation sequence number is recorded by the research team on the data collection form (DCF), the database and in the participant’s medical record. Infants receive the same allocation as their mother.

    Blinding

    The study is double-blinded. All investigators, participants, carers, hospital and clinic staff are blinded to the treatment group until completion of study follow-up. Unblinding is permissible if the independent data safety monitoring committee (iDSMC), principal investigator or appropriate qualified delegate is compelled by evidence of a safety concern.

    Data collection, management and analysis

    Data collection methods

    All study visit and clinical data are recorded by research nurses on standardised paper-based DCFs. Protocol adherence (deviations/violations) are continuously monitored and documented by study staff. Established methods are used to document episodes of respiratory infection from medical records.33–35 Collection and processing times, and quality measures are recorded for all biological samples. A GCP compliant protocol is employed if corrections are made to paper-based records. All study documents are securely retained at MSHR.

    Sample collection

    Established methods are being used for the collection and processing of blood, breast milk, nasal, stool and saliva samples.4 34 35 42 51 Briefly, whole cord blood is collected via venepuncture: (1) into three (10 mL) heparinised tubes containing an equal volume of RMPI (Sigma-Aldrich) cell culture media; (2) into heparinised paediatric blood tubes (<1 mL) and (3) onto Guthrie cards (~80 µL). Maternal and infant venous bloods (finger or heel prick) are collected first onto Guthrie cards (filling designated spot to the edge) and then into heparinised tubes if the volume is sufficient. The cord blood samples collected in media are kept at room temperature and an aliquot is used for immunophenotyping43 prior to isolation of CBMCs. Plasma is obtained from all other heparinised blood samples following centrifugation. Guthrie card samples are dried for 24 hours then stored as DBS in an envelope at room temperature. Nasal samples are collected with a sterile wire shafted swab (Copan) then placed into skim milk-tryptone-glucose-glycerol broth. All samples (except cord blood-media samples and DBS) are kept at 4°C during processing. Isolated CBMCs and samples (except DBS) are stored in cryotubes at −80°C within 24 hours of collection.

    Data management

    Data are entered by the research nurses into a REDCap electronic data capture (EDC) tool with web-based interface,52 53 hosted by MSHR at Charles Darwin University. Laboratory data are entered by the laboratory scientist. The EDC tool includes built-in validation ranges to facilitate accurate data entry. An EDC audit trail maintains a record of entries and changes made. Logic and 10% data checks (EDC cross-checked with DCFs) are performed regularly. Error rates greater than 1% precipitate 100% checks of targeted data fields and further 10% checks of all data.

    Statistical analyses

    The RCT is being conducted and reported according to CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) guidelines.54 A detailed statistical analysis plan will be developed by the investigators and study statisticians prior to the unblinding and final analysis.

    The primary ‘intention-to-treat’ analysis will compare the incidence of infant ARI (episodes/child/12 months) between active and placebo groups using a negative binomial regression model and producing an estimate of the incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95%CIs. The model will include terms to account for repeat mothers and twins. There will be no imputation for missing data. Supplementation efficacy will be defined as (1−IRR)×100.

    Secondary analyses (clinical) will include between group comparisons of (1) the proportion of children having any ARI episode <12 months (using a generalised linear model with effects presented as risk ratios), (2) time to first ARI presentation (using Cox regression with effects presented as HRs) and (3) the incidence of ARI subgroup outcomes (pneumonia, bronchiolitis and OM using negative binomial regression with effects presented as IRRs). Sensitivity analyses will include those (1) with hospitalised outcomes and (2) clinical outcomes requiring antibiotics. A per-protocol analysis (excluding those who missed >3 consecutive doses) will also be conducted for all clinical outcomes.

    Secondary analyses (biological) will compare between-group differences in (1) circulating vitamin D levels: mean plasma 25OHD at each visit and breast milk 25OHD at birth (Student’s t-test), (2) microbiological outcomes: proportions of nasal swabs positive for S. pneumoniae, NTHi and RSV using χ2 tests and reporting risk ratios with 95% CIs and (3) immune function measures: median immune cell population counts in cord blood at birth and infant blood at 4 months; median circulating inflammatory marker levels in cord blood at birth and infant blood at 4 months; median CBMC population counts and CBMC challenge-induced cytokine levels (Wilcoxon rank-sum test); geometric mean concentrations of IgG and IgA to pertussis vaccine antigens in maternal plasma and breast milk; geometric mean concentrations of IgG and IgA PCV serotype antigens (five types) in infant saliva and plasma at age 4 months (Student’s t-test). All data will be analysed using Stata Statistical Software: Release V.17 (StataCorp) and GraphPad Prism V.9 (GraphPad Software, USA).

    For all analyses, p values <0.05 will be considered statistically significant. No adjustments will be made for multiple comparisons.

    Monitoring

    Data monitoring and harm assessment

    An iDSMC was established prior to any participant recruitment. The committee includes experienced study independent statisticians, clinicians, endocrinologists and epidemiologists. SAEs (hospital admissions) and other AEs are monitored by study staff through hospital visits, participant contact and regular review of participant medical records. Each SAE is reported to an independent medical monitor (an experienced paediatrician not on the iDSMC) to review causality. SAEs deemed as potentially related to the study are reported to the iDSMC and Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) within 72 hours. At regular intervals (<6 months), the iDSMC assess the totality of information relating to participant recruitment and retention, protocol deviations and violations, AEs and SAEs. Unblinding can be requested where concerns arise. With compelling evidence, the iDSMC can recommend cessation of the trial. Given vitamin D is low risk, there are no predefined stopping rules or planned interim analyses. A First Nations Reference Group oversees cultural aspects of the study.

    Discussion

    Our ‘D-Kids’ RCT is the first to evaluate perinatal vitamin D supplementation against medically attended ARIs among Australian First Nations infants during the first year of life. The sample size of 314 infants is expected to provide 90% power to detect a 27.5% relative reduction in new ARI episodes between groups. Importantly, our mechanistic outcomes will further characterise the effects of vitamin D supplementation on infant immune function and respiratory microbiology.

    This ‘D-Kids’ trial has several strengths. It addresses ARIs, an unmet health need, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged children. The study premise is guided by vitamin D and ARI data specific to the target population3 24 and the design incorporates key strengths of previous trials12 27 31 and guidelines55 including dose timing, concentration and frequency and potential effect size. Our study also addresses important knowledge gaps regarding the effectiveness among neonates and of practical weekly dosing regimens, and integrates immunological and microbiological outcomes. The weekly maternal (equivalent 2000 IU/day) and infant supplementation doses (equivalent 600 IU/day) were chosen to maintain vitamin D sufficiency (>50 nmol/L) throughout the active study period, taking into account previously published local infant vitamin D levels at birth.24 Importantly, there have been no SAEs associated with vitamin D supplementation in RCTs,12 31 as such, the balance of risk versus reward of a vitamin D strategy is likely to be highly favourable.

    Of note, recent evidence suggests daily dosing is most effective clinically.31 Further, there is emerging biological evidence to suggest bolus dosing is ineffective due to upregulation of 24-hydroxylase (converts 25OHD and 1,25OH2D3 into less active 24-hydroxylated products) and FGF23 (inhibits 1α-hydroxylase which is necessary to locally convert circulating 25OHD into active 1,25OH2D3) that act to balance the vitamin D response.56 However, these studies57 58 compare large bolus doses >150 000 IU with daily doses and the biological effect of moderate weekly doses (<14 000) remains unclear. One meta-analysis suggests that daily dose equivalents of 2000 IU or less in individuals with circulating 25OHD<100 nmol/L are unlikely to induce the same down regulation in vitamin D function as large bolus doses.59 Our study will contribute valuable data on the clinical and immunological effects of weekly vitamin D dosing in infants.

    There are also many challenges. The trial is being conducted throughout a pandemic. While the D-Kids trial has never officially paused, lockdowns, isolation and quarantine measures designed to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have restricted face to face contact, interaction with medical facilities and general travel, impacting participant recruitment and follow-up, and reducing the rates of ARI. As of December 2022, 184 infants had been recruited to the study. Several strategies have been implemented to mitigate slow recruitment including the addition of new study sites (notably Alice Springs in Central Australia), self-administered dosing, clinic assisted follow-up visits, and recruitment of twins and previously enrolled mothers. Notably, while self-administered dosing mimics the real-world setting, adherence (phone-based reporting) becomes more difficult to accurately monitor. With pandemic measures easing in 2023, we are optimistic about achieving our recruitment target.

    Feasible interventions such as vitamin D supplementation show considerable potential against ARI but more evidence is required. Our study outcomes will make an important contribution to clinical practice, the medical literature and could have profound implications for disadvantaged populations where ARIs are common.

    Dissemination

    Registration

    ‘D-Kids’ is registered with the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry: http://www.ANZCTR.org.au (ACTRN12618001174279). The current protocol version is 2.1 (last updated 16 September 2022).

    Protocol amendments

    All protocol modifications are reported to the NT HREC for review and approval. Trial registries are regularly updated as required. Investigators, the iDSMB and other stakeholders, including participating community health services, are advised of important protocol amendments, such as those that may impact on participant safety, scientific validity, scope or ethical rigour. Substantive protocol amendments are agreed by the ‘D-Kids’ investigator team and are approved by HREC before implementation. Minor administrative amendments are documented in notes to file.

    Consent

    Only appropriately trained staff conduct informed consent. Information is provided to the mother in written, verbal and pictorial formats, with language translation where requested. The study is explained to expectant mothers face to face, and they are provided with sufficient time to ask questions, discuss and consider participation of themselves and their child with relevant others and obtain further study details prior to signing and dating the informed consent form. The consent process includes explanations of all elements of consent according to GCP, the Declaration of Helsinki, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) requirements and according to local requests to ensure cultural safety (as recommended by the First Nations Child Health Reference Group.

    Additional consent is sought from parents or guardians to use participant data and biological specimens for future research relating to child health respiratory studies. Options to refuse each or all requests are provided. Participants are also asked if they would like to be contacted about future research studies.

    Confidentiality

    All identifiable information on study participants is retained in password-protected files and locked cabinets at study sites. Access to this information is only provided to authorised study staff, unless required by legislative or regulatory agencies and the HREC. No identifying information will be included in study reports. Clinical specimens are labelled with the participant randomisation number only and will be destroyed as per the NHMRC-based ethics statement.

    Declaration of interests

    MSHR (NT, Australia) is the trial sponsor. Study investigators working at MSHR and partnering institutes are solely responsible for the design, conduct and reporting of this RCT. The investigators and protocol authors declare no conflicts of interest. The trial is funded by the NHMRC. The study medicine and placebo are manufactured and supplied free of charge by Ddrops, Ontario, Canada. Neither Ddrops or the NHMRC had/will have any role in the trial study design, conduct, analysis or reporting.

    Access to data

    The final trial dataset will be under the custody of the trial sponsor, MSHR, NT, Australia. The principal investigator, study statistician and senior data manager at MSHR will have access to all study data. Third party access to the final anonymised dataset will require written requests to be approved by the HREC, iDSMC, study investigators and the director of MSHR.

    Ancillary and post-trial care

    All participants have access to ancillary care from their usual healthcare provider (local community health centre). Trial participants will be insured and indemnified by the MSHR for their involvement in the study. Injury due to study procedures will be considered trial related.

    Dissemination policy

    Trial results will be communicated in aggregate to participant families and their communities via written and oral presentations. Trial results will then be published in peer-reviewed international journals, presented at relevant national and international conferences, and reported to local policy-makers (eg, NT and Australian government, Therapeutic Goods Administration, First Nations Reference Group). Results will be disseminated regardless of the magnitude or direction of effect. There will be no publication restrictions. Applications for third party access to deidentified trial data will be considered by study investigators if appropriately justified and compliant with ethical and privacy policies.

    Data availability statement

    No data are available. This is a protocol paper, and therefore, there are no associated data.

    Ethics statements

    Patient consent for publication

    Ethics approval

    ‘D-Kids’ has the full approval of the NT HREC (2018-3160), formerly (<2022) composed of separate Top End (HREC-20183160) and Central Australian (CAHREC-2020-3820) committees.

    Acknowledgments

    We would like to thank the research staff (Michelle Lamberth, Verity Powell, Jane Nelson, Erin O’Connor, Jess Stevens, Philippa Riley, Grace Arnold, Jennifer Goodall, Lorraine Gilbert, Paula Van Dokkum, Erin Darrough, Lisa Morrissy and Luzanne Scheepers) including our First Nations researchers (Ada Parry, Anna Wommatakimmi-Chapaman and Tayla Chisholm) for their excellent guidance on the cultural aspects and assistance with study visits. We also thank the NT First Nations Reference Group (Bilawara Lee, Mark Mayo, Tracey Brand, Christine Campbell, Dennis Bonney, Lorna Murakami-Gold, Pirrawayinyi Puruntatameri, Veronica McClintic, Lesley Versteegh and Kiarna Brown) for their ongoing oversight and valuable advice. We acknowledge the critical support of the Danila Dilba Health Service (Dr Andrew Webster, Joy McLaughlin and Florence Morcom), Central Australian First Nations Congress (Dr Bronwyn Silver and Tahnia Edwards), and the many staff at Royal Darwin Hospital (including Jonathan Vandenberg), Alice Springs Hospital (including Dr Megan Halliday and Dr James Dowler), local and community primary health care clinics. Additionally, we thank Jacobus Ungerer and Brett McWhinney at Pathology Queensland for the quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis of circulating vitamin D metabolites. Finally, we acknowledge the contribution of our iDSMC members (Professor Rob Ware, Professor Cameron Grant, Dr Kalinda Griffiths, Dr Angela Titmus, Dr Jeremy Chin) and our Independent Safety Monitors (Dr Dennis Bonney, Dr Carly Marks and Dr Carina Cotaru) for volunteering their valuable time and expertise.

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    Supplementary materials

    • Supplementary Data

      This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.

    Footnotes

    • Contributors MJB designed and wrote the trial protocol and analysis plan. SJP, AK, PSM, HD'A, TS and ABC contributed to the design and analysis plan. VP, ML and JN guided the protocol logistics and GCP compliance. MJB and ASB drafted the manuscript. All named authors contributed to subsequent drafts and approved the final manuscript.

    • Funding The trial was funded by a 5-year NHMRC of Australia project grant (1138604).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research. Refer to the Methods section for further details.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.