We know that vitamin D is good for our bodies, but whether or not it has real health benefits as a supplement to a diet has long been a matter of debate. The latest study on the subject suggests that such supplements may reduce the risk of heart attack.
While the study reports only a small change in the risk of a “major cardiovascular event” when taking vitamin D, it is certainly helpful in figuring out the relationship between this and other health factors.
According to the study’s lead author, epidemiologist Rachel Neale of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia, it is the second largest study to date to look at vitamin D supplements and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Submit this as a study that is inconclusive in terms of cause and effect, but has a large enough sample size – 21,302 patients aged 60 to 84 – to mean that more work can now be done to explore the relationship in more to analyze in detail.
“Our study found that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, and the protective effect may be more pronounced in those taking statins and other heart disease drugs,” say Neal.
“It does suggest that further research is needed on this.”
The study participants received either a vitamin D supplement or a placebo for up to five years, with about 80 percent of those in the vitamin D group still taking their supplements at the end of those five years.
In the vitamin D group, 6 percent of participants experienced a major cardiovascular event, compared to 6.6 percent of participants taking a placebo. Specifically in terms of heart attacks, the rate was 19 percent lower in the vitamin D group, while there was no difference in the number of strokes.
The statistics showed a greater benefit from vitamin D supplements for those who took it statins or some other form of heart health drug when the trial began – another interesting finding to investigate further.
“We’re not sure why this is the case,” say Neal. “It could be an indicator of a higher risk at the beginning of the trial, so there was more room for improvement.”
The researchers are keen to point out that no one should start taking vitamin D supplements for their heart without first consulting a doctor — especially older people with pre-existing conditions.
Meanwhile, the discussion about supplements continues. If you’re interested in boosting Vitamin D naturally, the answer is lots of sunlight and foods including oily fish and egg yolks.
“While previous randomized controlled trials have not shown that taking supplements is beneficial for this outcome, the D-Health Trial findings suggest that it is premature to say that vitamin D supplementation does not alter risk,” say Neal.
The research has been published in the BMJ.