Low Levels of Vitamin D Linked to Higher Risk of Heart Attack

Vitamin D is a steroid vitamin that is important for the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorous and which have various crucial functions, especially maintaining healthy bones. This works as an immune system regulator.

A new study focuses on the important of this vitamin stating, "low levels of vitamin D are associated with a markedly higher risk of heart attack and early death."

Heart disease is the most common cause of adult death in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which estimates that at least 17 million people die every year from heart disease.

This study has been conducted by the researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital who studied more than 10,000 Danes and has been published in the Journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.

The population study that forms the basis for this scientific investigation is the Copenhagen City Heart Study, where levels of vitamin D were measured in blood samples from 1981-1983. Participants were then followed in the nationwide Danish registries up to the present.

Till date the deficiency of Vitamin D was associated with poor bone health. But the latest study links the lack of Vitamin D to a higher risk of ischemic heart disease. Ischemic heart disease is the Coronary Artery Disease which affects the supply of blood to the heart. Other studies show that vitamin D deficiency may increase blood pressure, and it is well known that high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack.

"We have now examined the association between a low level of vitamin D and ischemic heart disease and death in the largest study to date. We observed that low levels of vitamin D compared to optimal levels are linked to 40 percent higher risk of ischemic heart disease, 64 percent higher risk of heart attack, 57 percent higher risk of early death, and to no less than 81 percent higher risk of death from heart disease," says Dr. Peter Brondum-Jacobsen, Clinical Biochemical Department, Copenhagen University Hospital.

Nearly a 5 percent lowest level of vitamin D was compared to 50 percent highest levels. The higher risks are visible, even after adjustment for several factors that can influence the level of vitamin D and the risk of disease and death. This is one of the methods scientists use to avoid bias.
Currently in Denmark it is recommended to have a vitamin D status of at least 50 nanomol vitamin per litre serum.

"With this type of population study, we are unable to say anything definitive about a possible causal relationship. But we can ascertain that there is a strong statistical correlation between a low level of vitamin D and high risk of heart disease and early death. The explanation may be that a low level of vitamin D directly leads to heart disease and death. However, it is also possible that vitamin deficiency is a marker for poor health generally," says Borge Nordestgaard, clinical professor at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and senior physician at Copenhagen University Hospital.

The next aim of the scientists is to determine whether the connection between a low level of vitamin D and the risk of heart disease is a genuine causal relationship.

"The cheapest and easiest way to get enough vitamin D is to let the sun shine on your skin at regular intervals. There is plenty of evidence that sunshine is good, but it is also important to avoid getting sunburned, which increases the risk of skin cancer. Diet with a good supply of vitamin D is also good, but it has not been proven that vitamin D as a dietary supplement prevents heart disease and death," says Nordestgaard.