Low vitamin D leads to heart attack and early death

Bonnie and Steve: This is a study that you can really appreciate because of its longevity and focus on prevention. Appearing in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, the study investigated the links between vitamin D levels and the incidence of heart disease and mortality. Researchers took plasma 25(OH)D samples from 10,170 Danish women and men and followed them for an average of 29 years. They found that low levels of vitamin D compared to optimal levels were linked to 40% higher risk of ischemic heart disease, 64% higher risk of heart attack, 57% higher risk of early death, and to no less than 81% higher risk of death from heart disease. The lowest 25(OH)D levels of vitamin D were those with less than 15 nanomol vitamin per liter serum. Adequate levels of vitamin D were defined as more than 50 nanomol vitamin per liter serum. For those who doubted the importance of vitamin D for cardiovascular health, this study should put those doubts to rest.