Vitamin D offers protection against heart disease--study

A boost of vitamin D levels in the blood reduces their risk of heart disease by about 30 percent.

Dr. J. Brent Muhlestein, the lead author of the study and director of cardiovascular research at Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City stated, "Vitamin D replacement therapy has long been associated with reducing the risk of fractures and diseases of the bone.

"But our findings show that vitamin D could have far greater implications in the treatment and reduction of cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions than we previously thought."

In a bid to establish the link between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of coronary artery disease, the researchers conducted two studies.

Details of the first study
For the first study, the investigators tracked a group of 9,400 patients for a period of one year. The participants, mostly females exhibited low vitamin D levels in their initial blood test.

In their follow-up exam, 47 percent of the patients had increased their nutrient levels to above 30 nanograms per milliliter.

Experts advise an increase of vitamin D intake by 1000 to 5000 international units (IU) daily based on the health and genetic risk of an individual.

The researchers noted that patients who had acquired the normal vitamin D levels were at 33percent reduced risk of a heart attack, 20percent less likely to develop heart failure, and 30 percent reduction in risk of death as opposed to those still deficient.

41,000 patients examined based on different levels of vitamin D
In the second study, the researchers divided 41,000 patients into three categories based on their levels of vitamin D -- normal, moderate deficiency, and severe deficiency.

They then monitored their medical records and discovered severely deficient patients were more prone to heart disease or stroke.

Muhlestein declared, "While normal has generally been considered to be 30, some people have suggested 40 or 50 is better.

"What we found is that people who increased their vitamin D blood level to 43 nanograms per milliliter had the lowest rates of heart disease and stroke. But increasing it beyond that, say to 60 or 70, offered no greater benefit.”

Health benefits of Vitamin D
The study found vitamin D supplements not only cut the risk of heart-attack risk but also exhibited health benefits for a host of other chronic conditions.

Those with vitamin D deficiency had an 80-per-cent greater risk of death, a 54-per-cent higher risk of diabetes, a 40-per-cent higher risk of coronary artery disease, a 72-per-cent higher risk of kidney failure and a 26-per-cent higher risk of depression.

Experts advise an increase of vitamin D intake by 1000 to 5000 international units (IU) daily based on the health and genetic risk of an individual.

Vitamin D comes mainly from sun exposure, though small amounts are found in foods like fortified milk and salmon. However, larger amounts are contained in over-the-counter vitamin supplements.

The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting in Atlanta.