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Study: Vitamin D decreases heart attack risk

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Several new studies presented at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting in Atlanta examined the health benefits linked to the sunshine vitamin. One such study, authored by researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City, found that vitamin D supplements may effectively ward off heart disease in people with low blood levels of the nutrient.

During the research, investigators monitored more than 900 participants whose blood tests revealed insufficient levels of vitamin D. After one year of follow-up, a total of 47 percent of subjects had increased their nutrient levels to 30 nanograms per milliliter, which is generally considered "normal."

Compared to patients who did not take additional nutrient supplements, patients who had boosted their vitamin D levels were 20 percent less likely to develop heart failure and 33 percent less likely to have a heart attack during the 12-month period.

"Vitamin D replacement therapy has long been associated with reducing the risk of fractures and diseases of the bone," said lead author Brent Muhlestein.

"But our findings show that vitamin D could have far greater implications in the treatment and reduction of cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions than we previously thought," he added.