Vitamin D Deficiency and Heart Attack Risk

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks in men. It seems like vitamin D deficiency is showing up all over the news. As people age, levels of vitamin D tend to drop and these drops can lead to deficiency. This is really a shame because low levels of vitamin D have been linked to lower back pain, depression, unhealthy arteries and many other conditions. It is a double shame because vitamin D is produced in the body and can be increased simply through exposure to sunlight. I would expect to see routine testing for vitamin D deficiency soon, especially in older adults. Read on to learn how this type of testing could lead to vitamin D supplementation to reduce heart attack risk.

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Heart Attack Risk

In a simple study, researchers took blood samples from 454 men (aged 40 to 75) who had non-fatal heart attacks or heart disease over a period of 10 or so years. They compared these blood samples to almost 1,000 men of the same age group with no heart disease. They also kept track of diet, lifestyle, medical records and other factors. They found the men with the heart problems had lower average levels of vitamin D.

Vitamin D – How Low Can You Go?

Vitamin D deficiency is defined at 15 nanograms per milliliter or less. When the researchers compared men with vitamin D deficiency to men with 30 nanograms or more, they found an increased risk for heart attacks even after considering omega-3 intake, alcohol consumption, physical activity and anything else they could think of that is also linked to heart attack risk.

How to Get More Vitamin D

Vitamin D is produced in your body. When your skin gets hit by the sun’s UV rays, it begins a process that produces vitamin D. For most people, about 15 minutes a day of sun exposure is enough. If your vitamin D levels are low, you can take supplements. But talk to your doctor and get tested first. Research into vitamin D deficiency is just beginning and we may see more links between aging and vitamin D.

_Source:

Edward Giovannucci, MD, ScD; Yan Liu, MS; Bruce W. Hollis, MD, PhD; Eric B. Rimm, ScD. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men: A Prospective Study. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(11):1174-1180.