Vitamin D lowers risk of cardiovascular disease in men

According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, men who have higher total vitamin D intake from foods such as fatty fish and fortified dairy products and cereals have a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health evaluated the associations between dietary and supplemental vitamin D and cardiovascular disease risk in 119,000 adults who participated in the Nurses' Health Study (1984–2006) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1986–2006) who were free of cardiovascular disease and cancer at baseline.

After a 20-year follow-up, they found that men who consumed at least 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily were 16% less likely to develop coronary heart disease or stroke, compared to men who consumed less than 100 IU daily. There was no association with reduced risk in women.

Previous studies have indicated higher intake of vitamin D boosts blood levels that can prevent or reduce the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition