Heart Disease: How Vitamin D Supplements Can Reduce Risk
- A study found that vitamin D is associated with cardiometabolic health.
- People taking it had better blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood sugar.
- Other groups did even better, such as those with vitamin D deficiency or low BMI.
- Experts say it’s a good idea to check with a doctor before taking larger doses.
- Sunlight and foods rich in vitamin D are the best ways to get this important nutrient.
According to a large review of randomized controlled trials, taking vitamin D supplements was associated with better cardiometabolic health.
The study, published online on July 26, 2024, in the journal Engineeringfound that a daily dose of 3,320 International Units (IU) was needed to achieve these benefits.
Participants who used vitamin D had better blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic), total cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1C, and fasting blood insulin.
However, the effect was stronger in non-Western people, older adults, people with low vitamin D levels, low body mass index (BMI), and who took the supplement for a long time. This was especially true in terms of glycemic index.
The authors of the study also emphasize the importance of giving each person an individual dose, based on these differences in response.
“Our findings suggest that high levels of vitamin D are necessary to maintain cardiovascular health in non-Western, obese and older adults,” they wrote. “Therefore, long-term dosing should be considered when developing individualized strategies aimed at improving cardiovascular health in this population.”
To conduct their study, the team searched several large medical research databases to identify all relevant studies.
In total, 99 eligible studies involving a total of 17,656 participants were found.
These participants ranged in age from 6 to 75, with a median age of 50.35.
Western and non-Western countries were included.
The researchers extracted data from the studies to learn how vitamin D supplementation works to improve risk factors for heart disease.
They also looked at whether people’s cultural background (Western vs. non-Western), baseline vitamin D levels, BMI, vitamin D levels, age and length of supplementation influenced heart disease prevention. .
Their analysis found that, overall, vitamin D supplementation improved all measures of heart health across the entire population.
The groups that benefited the most were non-Westerners, who started with a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level of less than 15.0 ng/mL (less than 20 ng/mL is usually considered vitamin D deficiency ), with a low BMI. more than 30 kg / m2 (non-obese), 50 years of age or older, and those using vitamin D supplements for longer than three months.
Akanksha Kulkarni, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at Prowise Healthcare, who was not involved in the study, advised that it is necessary to have a blood test before supplementing to see what your current vitamin D levels are.
“This test is usually done by your doctor, who will give you the guidance to give the dose if necessary,” he said.
He recommends caution because vitamin D can increase to toxic levels if taken for too long.
Calcium can be too high, contributing to kidney stones and even bone loss, according to Kulkarni.
- nausea
- vomiting
- weakness
- frequent urination
People should avoid taking too much vitamin D without consulting a doctor, he stressed.
However, if you choose to take a supplement, the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Guidelines says
Up to 4,000 IU per day is considered safe. Anything above this should only be taken under a doctor’s supervision.
Michael Lahey, MD, a physician and preventive health care expert with My Weight Loss Partner, who was also not part of the study, said one of the best ways to get enough vitamin D is exposure to the sun.
“The natural production of vitamin D requires only moderate sunlight, 10-30 minutes, 2-3 times a week,” he said.
“But one should not expose their skin to the sun without protection to prevent skin damage,” added Lahey, noting that too much unprotected sun exposure can increase the risk of cancer. of skin.
He added: “Tanning beds are the worst and should be strongly discouraged.”
You can also get plenty of vitamin D from foods like fatty fish, fortified dairy products and eggs, Lahey said. However, there are times when it may be beneficial to supplement.
He said: “This is especially important in winter or in areas where the sun does not shine for most of the year. “Sun exposure and the right diet can be combined with supplements to ensure your body has the right amount of vitamin D.”
A new study found that vitamin D supplementation was associated with cardiometabolic health.
People who took vitamin D supplements had better blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1C, and fasting insulin.
However, some people – such as non-Western people, the elderly, people with low vitamin D, those with a low BMI, and those who took the supplement for a long time – did they respond better.
Experts say most adults should stick to the recommended amount of vitamin D – 600 IU – unless they have been tested and advised by a doctor to drink more.
Exposure to sunlight (within limits) and eating foods rich in vitamin D are the best ways to maintain vitamin D levels.
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