Vitamin D deficiency may increase risk of heart disease: study
November 26th, 2008 - 2:05 pm ICT by IANSLos Angeles, Nov 26 (Xinhua) Chronic vitamin D deficiency may be a culprit in heart disease, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome, a new study has suggested.The lack of sunshine during winter may diminish vitamin D levels in the body and harm cardiovascular health, according to the study conducted by researchers at the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University in Chicago.
The body needs sunshine to produce vitamin D, but that process is slowed in the winter due to less daylight and spending more time indoors, said the study.
The researchers reviewed a number of studies that linked vitamin D deficiency to heart disease. The studies said rates of severe heart disease or death may be 30 percent to 50 percent higher in sun-deprived heart disease patients.
Diet alone is not sufficient to manage vitamin D levels, said the study.
Treatment options, such as vitamin D2 or D3, may decrease the risk of severe heart disease or death. The preferred range in the body is 30-60 mg/mL of vitamin D, the study suggested.
“Most physicians do not routinely test for vitamin D deficiency. However, most experts would agree that adults at risk for heart disease and others who experience fatigue, joint pain, or depression should have their vitamin D levels measured,” said study author Sue Penckofer.
The study was published in the November issue of the journal Circulation.
- Vitamin D deficit may up heart disease risk - Nov 24, 2008
- Vitamin D can help you tide over a bleak winter - Mar 09, 2010
- Vitamin D lifts mood during winters - Mar 04, 2010
- Low vitamin D levels may lead to sudden cardiac death - Nov 18, 2008
- Vitamin D intake delays onset of diabetes, reduces complications - Jan 15, 2009
- Adequate intake of vitamin D can prevent diabetes - Jan 13, 2009
- Vitamin D deficiency associated with lung transplant rejection - Oct 19, 2010
- Majority of obese teens are vitamin D deficient - Apr 28, 2011
- It's true - winter blues really do exist! - Dec 21, 2010
- High vitamin-D bread could help solve insufficiency problem - Feb 24, 2011
- Oral steroids bring on vitamin D deficiency - Sep 30, 2011
- Vit D deficiency 'doubles stroke risk in whites, not in blacks' - Nov 15, 2010
- Vigilance against skin cancer may lead to vitamin D deficiency - Oct 19, 2010
- Low vitamin C levels elevates heart failure risk - Nov 14, 2011
- Lack of vitamin D leads to 'chubbier kids, faster weight gain' - Nov 09, 2010
Tags: cardiovascular health, heart disease patients, heart disease study, high blood pressure, journal circulation, loyola university in chicago, metabolic syndrome, risk of heart disease, vitamin d deficiency, vitamin d2