Also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is one of 13 essential vitamins the human body needs to function properly. Vitamin D boosts immunity (hence why you're told to drink orange juice when sick), promotes nerve and brain function, and supports strong bones, per the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements. While you can get vitamin D naturally through sun exposure and the food you eat, many choose to take dietary supplements to increase vitamin D levels. And now, new research says that vitamin D supplements can also benefit heart health.
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According to a study published in the journal Engineering, vitamin D supplements can enhance cardiometabolic health and help prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases. Stroke, heart attack, and heart disease all fall under the cardiovascular disease umbrella, as does heart failure, arrhythmia, and heart valve disease, per the American Heart Association (AHA).
Until recently, the jury was still out on whether vitamin D deficiency was linked to poor cardiovascular health. For this study, researchers casted a diverse net of 17,656 participants, between the ages of six and 75, from around the globe—99 countries to be exact. The objective? See if increased vitamin D intake can improve cardiometabolic risk factors.
Scientists administered 3,320 international units (IU) of vitamin D supplements to participants per day. They evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure, blood lipids, and glycemic status (blood sugar levels).
Results showed that vitamin D supplements “significantly reduced” both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the total population. Additionally, researchers saw an improvement in total cholesterol levels and all glycemic parameters.
While the overall consensus is true for all participants, it should be noted that the study benefited some more than others. This included those who identified as non-Western, with a body mass index (BMI) below 30, with lower baseline vitamin D levels, participants 50 or older, and those on longer intervention cycles.
“Our findings suggest that higher vitamin D levels are required to maintain cardiovascular health in non-Westerners, obese, and older populations. Consequently, consideration should be given to administering higher doses for longer durations when designing personalized intervention strategies aimed at enhancing cardiometabolic health in these populations,” the researcher wrote in the study.
As always, if you’re interested in increasing your vitamin D intake, or have concerns about your cardiovascular health in general, speak with a healthcare provider, who can help determine the best next steps for you.
