Another thumbs up for Vitamin D

The lack of sunshine during winter may diminish vitamin D levels in the body and harm cardiovascular health, U.S. researchers say. "Chronic vitamin D deficiency may be a culprit in heart disease, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome," study author Sue Penckofer, a professor at the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University in Chicago, said. She and her colleagues said rates of severe heart disease or death may be 30 percent to 50 percent higher in sun-deprived heart disease patients. Diet alone isn't sufficient to manage vitamin D levels. The preferred range in the body is 30-60 ng/mL of 25 (OH) vitamin D. "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," Penckofer said. The study was published in the current issue of the journal Circulation.

Bonnie - as I have been harping on, get your vitamin D 25(OH)D level checked.