Women who take vitamin D supplements lower their risk of death from heart disease by one-third, a team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) told attendees of an American Heart Association meeting last year.
Low levels of vitamin D in the blood have previously been correlated with higher risk of heart disease and heart attacks. The researchers set out to determine if taking vitamin D supplements decreases this risk.
The researchers analyzed data from nearly 10,000 women over the age of 65 who were enrolled in a study of how often osteoporosis causes broken bones. Of these, more than 4,200 women reported that they took vitamin D supplements at the time of the study, and another 733 reported a prior history of supplement use.
After following the women for an average of nearly 11 years, the researchers found that the risk of heart disease death was 31% lower in those women who were taking vitamin D at the time of the study.
Please consult with one of our physicians if you want to find out whether you may need extra vitamin D.