Cheapest way to reduce global mortality rates

Increasing serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the "most cost-effective way to reduce global mortality rates", according to a new study in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In a paper assessing the likely impact on mortality rates of doubling serum vitamin D levels from 54 to 110 nmol/l in six regions of the world, researchers estimate that this would increase life expectancy by two years across all six regions. The predicted reduction in all-cause mortality rates ranges from 7.6 percent for African females to 17.3 percent for European females. The cost of vitamin D is very low and there are few adverse effects from oral intake and/or frequent moderate UVB irradiance with sufficient body surface area exposed.