2023-07-03 08:47:22
According to a study in the specialist journal BMJ, vitamin D intake can reduce the risk of heart attacks and treatments for coronary artery disease in people over 60.
The study looked at 21,315 people aged 60 to 84 in Australia. They were randomly assigned to receive either high-dose vitamin D or a placebo once a month for up to five years. Data on hospitalizations and deaths showed that vitamin D reduced heart attacks by 19 percent and treatments to restore blood flow to the heart for coronary artery disease by 11 percent. There was evidence that the protective effect was more pronounced in people taking statins or other cardiovascular drugs. However, this still needs to be investigated in more detail. The stroke rate did not differ between the two groups.
Previously, many observational studies have shown an association between vitamin D levels and cardiovascular disease risk. However, randomized controlled studies have so far found no evidence that a targeted intake of vitamin D prevents cardiovascular diseases. The researchers conclude from the new results: “The conclusion that vitamin D supplementation does not change the risk of cardiovascular disease is premature.”
Which: DOI 10.1136/bmj-2023-075230
1688375462
#vitamin #risk #heart #attack #older #people
