Lack of Vitamin D Ups Heart Risk

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Lack of Vitamin D Ups Heart Risk

Friday, December 12, 2008 by: Sherry Baker, Health Sciences Editor

http://www.naturalnews.com/025069.html

(NaturalNews) Vitamin D deficiency has long been linked with weak muscles

and bones. Now research shows a lack of the " sunshine " vitamin may also

increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, evidence is

mounting from numerous studies that low vitamin D levels could play a role

in a host of CVD risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and

diabetes. What's more, a lack of the vitamin may be a direct factor in

cardiovascular events, including stroke and congestive heart failure.

In a review article just published in the Journal of the American College of

Cardiology (JACC), H. O'Keefe, M.D., cardiologist and director of

Preventive Cardiology at the Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City,

Missouri, and his co-authors list practical recommendations to screen for

and treat low vitamin D levels, especially in patients with risk factors for

CVD and diabetes. The article points out that recent data from the

Framingham Heart Study suggests people with vitamin D levels below 15 ng/ml

were twice as likely to experience a heart attack, stroke or other

cardiovascular event within the next five years compared to those with

higher levels of vitamin D. This elevated risk remained even when

researchers adjusted for other well-known cardiovascular risk factors.

" Restoring vitamin D levels to normal is important in maintaining good

musculoskeletal health, and it may also improve heart health and prognosis.

Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized, emerging cardiovascular risk

factor, which should be screened for and treated, " Dr. O'Keefe, M.D., said

in a media release. " Vitamin D is easy to assess, and supplementation is

simple, safe and inexpensive. "

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) review points out

that about half of U.S. adults and 30 percent of children and teenagers are

estimated to have vitamin D deficiency. Low vitamin D levels are believed to

raise the risk of hypertension and a stiffening and thickening of the heart

and blood vessels. By altering hormone levels and immune system function,

vitamin D deficiency can also increase the risk of diabetes, a major

contributor to CVD.

According to Dr. O'Keefe's statement to the press, vitamin D deficiency is

far more prevalent than once thought. This may be due to the fact most of

the body's vitamin D usually comes from exposure to the sun - but indoor

lifestyles and use of sunscreen, which eliminates 99 percent of vitamin D

synthesis by the skin, means many people are not getting enough of the

essential vitamin. " We are outside less than we used to be, and older adults

and people who are overweight or obese are less efficient at making vitamin

D in response to sunlight, " said Dr. O'Keefe.

To increase levels of vitamin D, Dr. O'Keefe suggests exposing yourself to

sunlight for 10 minutes between the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., if you are

Caucasian. If you have increased or dark skin pigmentation, you may need to

spend more time in the sunshine. Other sources of vitamin D include salmon,

vitamin D-fortified foods, some cereals and supplements.

About the author

Sherry Baker is a widely published writer whose work has appeared in

Newsweek, Health, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Yoga Journal,

Optometry, Atlanta, Arthritis Today, Natural Healing Newsletter, OMNI,

UCLA's " Healthy Years " newsletter, Mount Sinai School of Medicine's " Focus

on Health Aging " newsletter, the Cleveland Clinic's " Men's Health Advisor "

newsletter and many others.