Increased Risk of Heart Attack Now Added to Dangers
for Men with Low Vitamin D Level
Vitamin D deficiency related to an increasing number
of conditions and to total mortality
June
9, 2008 Older men with low levels of vitamin D in their systems appear to be
at an increased risk of a heart attack. This is just the latest in a
series of studies that have found vitamin D playing a key role in
preventing serious health problems, including depression, cancer, high
blood pressure, falls by elderly, and the list goes on. One study last
September said it lowers the risk of death from any cause.
The latest study finding higher rates of myocardial
infraction (heart attack) in people with low levels of vitamin D is in
the June 9 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals.
Previouis studies have shown that the rates of
cardiovascular disease-related deaths are increased at higher latitudes
and during the winter months and are lower at high altitudes.
This pattern is consistent with an adverse effect
of hypovitaminosis D (vitamin D deficiency), which is more prevalent at
higher latitudes, during the winter and at lower altitudes, the authors
noted.
While other explanations are possible, vitamin D
has been shown to affect the body in ways that may influence the risk of
heart attack or heart disease.
Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., of Harvard School
of Public Health and Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, and
colleagues reviewed medical records and blood samples of 454 men (age 40
to 75) who had non-fatal heart attack or fatal heart disease from the
date of blood collection (between January 1993 and December 1995) until
January 2004.
They then compared the data from these men with
records and blood samples of 900 living men who did not have a history
of cardiovascular disease. The mens diet and lifestyle factors,
recorded by self-administered questionnaires were also noted.
Men with a vitamin D deficiency (having 15
nanograms per milliliter of blood or less) had an increased risk for
heart attack compared with those with a sufficient amount (having 30
nanograms per milliliter of blood or more) of vitamin D.
After additional adjustment for family history of
myocardial infarction, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical
activity, history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, ethnicity,
region, marine omega 3 intake, low- and high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels, this relationship remained
significant, the authors write.
Even if the men had a intermediate level of vitamin
D, they had a higher risk of heart attack than those with sufficient
vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D deficiency has been related to an
increasing number of conditions and to total mortality. These results
further support an important role for vitamin D in myocardial infarction
risk, the authors conclude.
Thus, the present findings add further support
that the current dietary requirements of vitamin D need to be increased
to have an effect on circulating 25(OH)D (vitamin D) levels
substantially large enough for potential health benefits.
Editor's Note: This study was supported by a grant
from the National Cancer Institute and a grant from the National Heart,
Lung and Blood Institute.
More links to
archived stories on vitamin D are below:
June
9, 2008 Older men with low levels of vitamin D in their systems appear to be
at an increased risk of a heart attack. This is just the latest in a
series of studies that have found vitamin D playing a key role in
preventing serious health problems, including depression, cancer, high
blood pressure, falls by elderly, and the list goes on. One study last
September said it lowers the risk of death from any cause.