Low Levels of Vitamin D Associated with Heart Attacks and Cancer

Posted on June 10, 2008
Filed Under Diet, Natural Medicine, Supplements | Leave a Comment

Well I never thought we would be encouraged to get outside and soak up some sun, but that is one of the recommendations just made by a medical expert on one of the major news networks.

Recent studies have link low levels of vitamin D to heart attacks in men.  Other reports  show an association between a lack of vitamin D and cancer, including breast and prostate.

The initial thought seems to be that many of these conditions are initiated by a low grade inflammatory response in the body.  Vitamin D is thought to have some effect in regulating that inflammation.  This is also one of the reasons that aspirin is thought to be beneficial as well as other anti-inflammatory supplements like fish oil.

So how much are people recommending?  Andrew Weil has suggested 1000 mg per day.

How else can you get it?  Some foods contain helpful amounts of it.  Good dietary sources include fortified foods, including dairy foods.  You can also get vitamin D in eggs, salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines (and get your fish oil too!)

Since sunlight causes our bodies to make vitamin D, daily exposure is helpful.

If you want to be real precise you can get a  Calculated Ultraviolet Exposure Levels for a Healthy Vitamin D Status.  This is provided by the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.

Here is more on the latest research results on vitamin d:

Vitamin D Deficiency a Silent Epidemic – A new study out of the Boston Children’s Hospital found that 40 percent of children between the ages of eight-months to two years are deficient in vitamin D. In a report published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, …

Vitamin D May Be Critical for Heart Health, Study Suggests – Researchers found that men deficient in vitamin D were substantially more likely to suffer a heart attack. Vitamin D is produced by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight — thus, it is known as “the sunshine vitamin.”.

Low levels of vitamin D in men linked to heart attack – Low levels of vitamin D appear to be associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) in men, according to a report in the June 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

And here are some helpful resources on how to get vitamin D and its other benefits:

Dietary Guidelines Show Need For Supplements – Pregnant women should consume 600 mcg/day of synthetic folic acid (from fortified foods or supplements) in addition to food forms of folate from a varied diet. Vitamin D for the Elderly, People with Dark Skin, and People Who Avoid the …

Vitamin D – Introduction Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin …

Vitamin D: Good for More than Bones – Most vitamin D in food, such as dairy products, does not occur naturally; it is added as a supplement and is not considered a reliable form of intake, since amounts may vary from product to product. Most of us need at least 800 units …

Vitamin D Deficiency Puts 40% of US Infants and Toddlers At Risk – However, the use of sunscreen and advice to stay out of the sun — which is important for preventing skin cancer — may also be reducing levels of vitamin D in people. Few foods naturally contain vitamin D, which is essential for strong …

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