Health ... Diet and Nutrition
Vitamin D Protection: More Than Just the Bones
from John Hopkins Health Alerts
In the past few years, there has been a flurry of news reports about the importance of vitamin D. These headlines followed the publication of several high-profile studies suggesting that the nutrient plays an unexpected role in preventing many illnesses, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and heart failure, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and colorectal cancer.
In other words, the value of vitamin D appears to go beyond maintaining strong bones and preventing osteoporosis.
Here’s a look at the effect of vitamin D on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia and cancer.
- Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease. A recent review reports that not only is vitamin D deficiency associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease and heart failure, in particular), it also increases the risk of hypertension and sudden cardiac death among people who already have cardiovascular disease. In fact, one study of about 3,400 men and women age 65 and older found that those with vitamin D deficiency were twice as likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those without a deficiency. The researchers hypothesized that vitamin D may improve the function of the heart and blood vessels and help quell inflammation.
- Vitamin D and Diabetes. Researchers also have found that low levels of vitamin D increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Vitamin D appears to affect insulin levels (the crucial factor in diabetes) by regulating the amount of calcium in the blood and through a direct effect on the function of the pancreas. Treating a vitamin D deficiency, some experts claim, might be a simple and low-cost means of preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes.
- Vitamin D and Dementia. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia also have been linked to vitamin D deficiencies. A review of observational and laboratory studies suggests that vitamin D may have a direct protective effect by reducing inflammation and protecting nerve cells, and as mentioned above, it may also help control other risk factors for dementia like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Vitamin D and Cancer. It’s also not fully understood how -- or if -- vitamin D can modify the risk of cancer, but some studies have found that the chances of developing cancer -- particularly colorectal cancer -- may be reduced in people with higher blood levels of vitamin D. The data aren’t consistent, however, so supplementation with vitamin D to prevent cancer isn’t recommended.
In addition to these conditions, ongoing research is attempting to determine if levels of vitamin D might affect multiple sclerosis, periodontal disease, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), tuberculosis, Parkinson’s disease and a host of other illnesses.
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
