Adding to the ever growing list of health benefits associated with Vitamin D, researchers have again shown that vitamin D can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes in the middle-aged and seniors by approximately 43%.

 

Researchers analyzed the data from 28 studies that focused on Vitamin D and cardiometabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. The studies involved a combined total of 99,745 men and women from a variety of ethnic and national backgrounds.

 

The analysis showed a connection between high levels of Vitamin D and a reduced risk of cariometabolic disorders. When compared to participants with low levels of Vitamin D, those with high levels had a 33% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, 55% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and 51% lower risk of metabolic syndrome. At is so often the case, even those with high levels were rarely at levels considered to be optimal by present day Vitamin D experts, raising the possibility that even greater benefits may be possible.

 

"We found that high levels of Vitamin D among middle age and elderly populations are associated with a substantial decrease in cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome," said Dr Oscar Franco, Assistant Professor in Public Health at Warwick Medical School and co-leader of the data review, in a February 15th press release.

"Targeting Vitamin D deficiency in adult populations could potentially slow the current epidemics of cardiometabolic disorders."