Medicosnext
Genetic evidence for a role of vitamin D deficiency in causing cardiovascular disease has been identified by researchers at the Australian Centre for Precision Health in a first-of-its-kind study published in the European Heart Journal. The results show that people with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to suffer from heart disease and hypertension than those with normal levels. The risk of heart disease was more than double for those with the lowest concentrations than those with sufficient concentrations.
Vitamin D deficiency has been recorded in an estimated 23% of the population in Australia, 24% in the US, and 37% in Canada. As per the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society and Osteoporosis Australia guidelines: 25-hydroxy-vitamin D of less than 30 nmol/L is considered to be in the deficient category; 25-hydroxy-vitamin D of 30-50 nmol/L is considered mildly deficient, and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D of greater than 50 nmol/L is sufficient for the health of bones
Chief investigator Prof. Elina Hyppönen said that while severe deficiency is relatively rare, if it does occur, it is essential to be proactive to avoid negative effects on the heart. She also stated that while food like oily fish, eggs, and fortified foods and drinks are good sources of vitamin D, food as such is a relatively poor source of the vitamin, and that, “If we do not get vitamin D through the sun, this is one of the rare nutrients for which we sometimes need to take a daily supplement to keep up with the requirements.”
Information from up to 267,980 individuals made it possible for the researchers to provide robust statistical evidence for the link between vitamin D deficiency and CVD. The results suggested that if vitamin D levels had been increased to at least 50 nmol/L in vitamin D-deficient people, an estimated 4.4% of all CVD cases could have been prevented.
