Vitamin D, also called the sunshine vitamin, is associated with the good functioning of the bone system, but a recent study shows that it also has an important role for heart health.
Vitamin D supplements may reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events PHOTO Shutterstock
A recent clinical trial found that taking vitamin D supplements may reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, among adults over the age of 60. The authors of the study published by British Medical
Journal points out that this was the largest study of its kind to date.
The term cardiovascular disease (CVD) encompasses all conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels and is one of the leading causes of death globally. CVD events, such as heart attacks and strokes, are projected to increase as people live longer and chronic diseases become more common.
Previous observational studies have consistently found a link between vitamin D levels in the body and CVD risk, but until this study there was no evidence that vitamin D supplements prevent cardiovascular events.
Extended five-year study
This study was conducted between 2014 and 2020 on 21,315 people between the ages of 60 and 84. Half of the study participants received a vitamin D capsule (60,000 IU) once a month, and the other half received a placebo.
The average duration of treatment was five years, with more than 80% of study participants reporting taking at least 80% of the pills. During the study, 1,336 participants experienced a major cardiovascular event (6.6% in the placebo group, 6% in the vitamin D group). The rate of major cardiovascular events was nine percent lower in the vitamin D group compared to the placebo group.
The heart attack rate was also 19% lower, but the team of doctors saw no difference in the stroke rate between the two groups of participants.
In conclusion, the study authors believe that the results obtained show that vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events.
2023-07-02 13:28:40
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