Jun 11 2008
Is There A Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency & Heart Attacks?
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Authors of a new study have concluded that males with a low level of Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, are more likely to suffer a heart attack, technically known as a Myocardial Infarction (MI).
There are a variety of clinical studies showing that the death-rates attributed to cardiovascular diseases grew during winter months. Conversely, the opposite was found at lower altitudes. This background pattern was expressed in the author’s article, published in the June 9 edition of the journal, Archives of Internal Medicine.
In conjunction with a team from the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., analyzed the medical records and blood samples of 454 men, aged between 40 & 75. All of whom have suffered from fatal heart diseases or had previously suffered non-fatal heart attacks.
Researchers took that data and compared it with the medical records and blood samples of 900 men, still living, who never had any of the heart complications the base subjects had.
What they found was that males with Vitamin D deficiency or those who merely meet the “intermediate” levels of Vitamin D, were more at risk of heart attack, compared to those with a healthy amount of Vitamin D in their diet. Researchers concluded that their results supported the fact that Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of heart attack, and possibly death.
They added that their findings support the need to enhance Vitamin D levels in the body to reduce this problem.
Where Do We Get Vitamin D?
One of the body’s essential vitamins, Vitamin D is referred to as the “sunshine vitamin.” After being in the sun, our bodies produce vitamin D naturally. Really, if you’re in the sun for as little as 10 to 15 minutes, and only 3 times a week, that is enough time for your body to produce vitamin D in quantities it needs.
When you look at it in these terms, unless you get very little “sun time,” there’s really no need to get vitamin D from your diet or supplements. Guess what, you can even store vitamin D in your body.
When vitamin D is manufactured in the body, the excess of what you need at the time can remain for months. So in the summer time, you can increase your vitamin D levels by increasing your time in the sun.
Vitamin D plays a very important roll in your body’s health. Its job is to promote the absorption of magnesium and calcium. These substances are vital to the healthy development of bones and teeth. Vitamin D also helps to keep adequate levels of phosphorus and calcium in the blood.
If you have to, you can take supplements of vitamin D to meet your body’s needs. One thing you may want to consider when shopping for vitamins: Vegans choose Vitamin D2 labeled items instead of Vitamin D3.
The Difference Between Vitamin D2 & Vitamin D3
Vitamin D2, named ergocalciferol, is produced by irradiating plants to produce yeasts. Vitamin D3 comes from animal sources. Its manufacturing base can come from cattle brains, sheep wool, hides and fish.
Related Vitamin D Articles:
- Vitamin D: Myths, Facts & Statistics
- The Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D
- Press Release: Vitamin D Defiency May Increase Heart Attack Risk
June 30th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Vitamin D could be the easiest nutrient to get enough of. Between milk, daily supplements, and natural sunlight (the best source of vitamin D) it should not be a problem reaching your body’s daily intake of this important vitamin.
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May 21st, 2009 at 1:56 pm
interesting article.
thanks
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April 28th, 2009 at 9:06 am
once again,,, thanks so much doctor..:)
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April 28th, 2009 at 9:04 am
interesting post doctor….
its a great info…
thanks for sharing…
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March 8th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
During the time I’m only thinking that vitamin d good to growth of our bone. I’ve never suspected if deficiency of d vitamin can improve heart attack risk. It is true as is the case? Nice info…
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March 7th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Interesting facts because it showed that men can get bad effect on vitamin D deficiency.
And it’s interesting too to know that there is a relationship between vitamin D and heart attack.
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March 5th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Very interesting article. Why the research only takes men? How about women?
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January 20th, 2009 at 12:31 am
It has been an interesting research done by the author about Myocardial Infarction (MI). I had absolutely no idea that vitamin D can play such an important role in preventing heart attacks. Now I will also take special care for not avoiding any chance for getting vitamin D.
Its really an interesting and useful research.
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January 16th, 2009 at 12:46 am
hi…its a nice article. really its very informative. every one very conscious about their health. so vitamins
are most important part of our body.i think so its a good question is link between deficiency of vitamin d
and heart attacks. because vitamin d plays a very important role in our body’s health so its promote the
absorption of magnesium and calcium so its related to our heart. so its very gainful article. i like it very
much so i want to say thanks to u.
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September 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Informative post,
Being a bit of a health nut, I’m constantly researching ways to obtain health by natural means. It’s a real shame that more doctors can’t be a little more open minded about alteranative methods to health care.
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August 4th, 2008 at 10:55 am
This is an interesting study on Vitamin D. And I also had no idea that there were different kinds of Vitamin D — Vitamin D2 & Vitamin D3.
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July 29th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I’ve done alot of reading on the importance of Vitamin D. Not only is Vitamin D deficiency dangerous for your health, but excessive Vitamin D can also be dangerous.
I’m not sure of the relationship between Vitamin D Deficiency & Heart Attacks, but it’s an interesting study. Thanks for sharing!
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