Super vitamin D is in the news again. This time research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine actually showed that people with lower levels of vitamin D (25-hydroxivitamin D) in their blood had an increased rate of death from all causes compared to those with higher levels of vitamin D. But no significant associations were found between blood vitamin D levels and risk of death from cardiovascular disease or cancer alone.
The authors of the study mentioned that the “low vitamin D levels may be associated with death through their effect on blood pressure, the body’s ability to respond to insulin, obesity and diabetes risk”. It is also interesting to point out that cardiovascular events are more common in the winter when vitamin D levels are lower. Also, cancer survival is increased if it’s diagnosed in the summer when vitamin D levels are higher. Another related article reports “earlier studies have also seen a possible association between vitamin D deficiency and an 80% increased risk of peripheral artery disease.”
I believe the more vitamin D is studied the more benefits they will find. All these benefits have been “speculated” for years, but now they are accumulating proof. Therefore, I urge you to include vitamin D testing as part of your yearly check up. And like I mentioned before, it’s important to take control of your health and know your numbers.
According to a Nutrition Horizon article about the vitamin D study, “approximately 41 percent of U.S. men and 53 percent of U.S. women have vitamin D levels lower than 28 nanograms per milliliter (or 70 nmol/L)”. From everything I’ve read so far the recommendations are to aim for a blood level of 75-80 nmol/L for overall prevention and health. So then, a very high percentage of the U.S. population would be deficient as the yearly average is only about 60 nmlo/L.
Bottom line: have your vitamin D level checked by your doctor and then evaluate the need for supplementation. Meanwhile eat fatty fish, drink fortified milk and make sure you get 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure most days of the week to keep your vitamin D level within optimal range, like suggested at the Osteoporosis conference roundtable held in Switzerland this past February .But do your own research too depending on what is important to you. Take control of your health, prevention is the best medicine.
- Josee
Labels: Josee, Recent Research, Vitamin D
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