Vitamin D deficiency associated with heart disease and death

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - After analyzing data from more than 10,000 patients, a team the U.S. found that 70 percent had vitamin D deficiency, with a much higher risk of heart disease than the rest of the population and twice as likely to die.

But the use of supplements to correct this deficiency decreased by 60 percent the risk of dying, the researchers at the University of Kansas .

"We expected to observe a relationship between heart disease and deficiency of vitamin D, but we were surprised with how strong," said Dr. James L. Vacek's Hospital and Medical Center of the University of Kansas. "It was much deeper than we expected," he said.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with many diseases , but few studies have shown that supplements could prevent them.

Vacek's team reviewed data from 10,899 adults, which they had measured vitamin D levels in blood at the hospital of the university. In over 70 percent, the levels were below 30 ng / ml, which is the value considered healthy.

After considering the medical history of patients, drug treatments and other factors, cardiologists found that people deficient in vitamin D were twice as likely to have diabetes, 40 percent more likely to have hypertension and 30 percent more likely to develop cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease) than those without nutrient deficiency.

Moreover, this group had three times the risk of dying from any cause than those without vitamin D, as published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

By focusing on users of supplemental vitamin D, the team found that the risk of dying from any cause was 60 percent lower than in the rest of the participants, although the effect was even greater in those with vitamin deficiency at the time of evaluation.

The study does not prove that vitamin D is responsible for the observed effects, other factors such as disease, could explain the differences associated with the state of health and vitamin D levels recorded.

The latest national survey on health and nutrition of the population (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) estimated that between 25 and 57 percent of U.S. adults have insufficient levels of vitamin D.

Vacek attributed it to how to obtain the nutrient, said it should be 90 percent through the sun and just 10 percent through food.

The human body produces vitamin D when skin is exposed to sunlight. Certain foods, like fatty fish, eggs and fortified milk, also provide the nutrient.

To absorb enough vitamin D in the sun, which expose the entire body for at least 20 minutes daily in the warmer seasons, but Vacek said most of the population spends enough time outdoors.