Lower Cardiovascular Risk with Higher Vitamin D Intake!

Vitamin D levels in the blood appear to reduce cardiovascular risk and mortality caused by heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Specifically, for every increase of 10 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood, there is a 10% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events and a 12% reduction in the probability of dying from related diseases. Although further studies are needed to define these effects, vitamin D’s impact on the cardiovascular system seems to be due to multiple mechanisms of action.

This was discovered by a team of scientists from several research centers, including Capital Medical University in Beijing (China) and Pennsylvania State University (USA). The research was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Cardiovascular Risk: Can Vitamin D Deficiency Increase It?

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and disability in Western countries. The spread of these diseases is due both to increased incidence of pathological conditions and to the widespread unhealthy lifestyle. Cardiovascular diseases include all those affecting the heart and blood vessels. The most common are myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, cardiomyopathies, heart failure, arrhythmias, and cerebrovascular diseases, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The main cause of cardiovascular disorders is a chronic inflammatory disease called atherosclerosis, caused by atherosclerotic plaques, which are thickening of the inner arterial walls that reduce blood flow. Cardiovascular diseases have a multifactorial origin, meaning they are caused by several risk factors that contribute simultaneously to their development:

• advanced age
• male sex
• family history
• cigarette smoking
• poor diet
• hypertension
• high cholesterol
• diabetes

Recent findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency in the bloodstream may also be associated with heart failure and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin D is essential for maintaining bone health. However, it is now established that adequate vitamin D status is also important in counteracting certain types of cancer and in maintaining the function of the immune and cardiovascular systems. Vitamin D deficiency in adults causes osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, some tumors, autoimmune diseases, infectious and cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors, D3 (colecalciferol) and D2 (ergocalciferol). Both precursors are converted in the liver and kidneys into 25(OH)D, and then into 1,25(OH)2D, the metabolically active form. Most vitamin D is synthesized by the body through the action of sunlight on the skin. For this reason, levels in populations of Northern European countries are very low during winter months (link). In this regard, dietary supplements and fortified foods are widely considered the best way to increase vitamin D intake and prevent deficiency.

A 10 ng Increase in Vitamin D Lowers Cardiovascular Event Risk by 10%

Although an increasing number of studies in the last decade have focused on the relationship between vitamin D and cardiovascular diseases, the link between 25(OH)D and cardiovascular risk remains unclear. For this reason, the research team correlated blood levels of 25(OH)D with cardiovascular events and mortality, analyzing data from various scientific studies. The results showed that for every 10 nanogram per milliliter increase in vitamin D, the risk of cardiovascular events decreased by 10%, and the probability of death from cardiovascular diseases decreased by 12%. This suggests that higher 25(OH)D concentrations have a protective effect on cardiovascular events in general and on mortality caused by them.

Details of the Meta-Analysis Study

To conduct the meta-analysis, researchers collected data from 34 scientific publications, covering over 180,000 people from different populations. Of these, 9,170 people died from cardiovascular diseases, 7,074 were cases of ischemic heart disease or myocardial infarction, 3,127 were stroke cases, and 3,037 were cases of heart failure. Statistical analysis revealed an inverse association of blood 25(OH)D with total cardiovascular events and mortality rate caused by these events.

How Does the Sunshine Vitamin Work?

Researchers state that the exact way vitamin D influences cardiovascular risk is not yet known, but data from other studies suggest several potential mechanisms. Experimental studies have shown a regulatory effect of vitamin D on cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) and smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. Additionally, 25(OH)D regulates the renin-angiotensin system, which modulates blood pressure. Finally, vitamin D may have anti-inflammatory action, playing an important role in counteracting atherogenesis, the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Vitamin D also inhibits certain proteins called metalloproteinases, which are involved in the instability of atherosclerotic plaques and progression of atherosclerosis.

The Role of Vitamin D in Reducing Cardiovascular Risk Needs Further Study

According to the researchers, further investigations are needed to confirm vitamin D’s role in preventing cardiovascular diseases. The optimal vitamin D concentration required to reduce the overall risk of cardiovascular diseases also remains to be defined. In any case, vitamin D is inversely associated with cardiovascular events and could represent an economical and effective strategy to reduce mortality from heart attacks and strokes. Omegor D3 drops is a vitamin D3 supplement that can be used in all cases of increased need or reduced dietary intake of vitamin D. Each drop of D3 drops provides 400 IU (international units) of vitamin D3, i.e., 10 micrograms.

Source: R. Zhang et al. "Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the risk of cardiovascular disease: dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.