According to the latest report, decreased levels of Vitamin D seem to be linked with greater risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) in men.
The studies have portrayed that the rates of cardiovascular disease-related deaths has increased at higher latitudes, also in the winter season and is lower at higher altitudes.
“This pattern is consistent with an adverse effect of hypovitaminosis D [vitamin D deficiency], which is more prevalent at higher latitudes, during the winter and at lower altitudes,” the authors write.
Vitamin D is proved to affect the body in various manners which affects the risk of heart attack or heart disease.
Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., of Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, and colleagues examined the medical reports and the blood samples of 454 men under the age group of 40 to 75 who suffered non-fatal heart attack or fatal heart disease from a date period between January 1993 and December 1995 wherein the blood collection was done until January 2004. The researchers later compared the data from these men with the records and blood samples of 900 living men who didn’t have any past records of cardiovascular disease. Different pointers like men’s diet and lifestyle factors were noted in the questionnaire.
“After additional adjustment for family history of myocardial infarction, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, ethnicity, region, marine omega 3 intake, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels, this relationship remained significant,” the authors write.
Men suffering from vitamin D deficiency with 15 nanograms per milliliter of blood or even less had greater risk for heart attack than those men with adequate amount of 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood, of vitamin D.
“Vitamin D deficiency has been related to an increasing number of conditions and to total mortality. These results further support an important role for vitamin D in myocardial infarction risk,” the authors conclude. “Thus, the present findings add further support that the current dietary requirements of vitamin D need to be increased to have an effect on circulating 25(OH)D [vitamin D] levels substantially large enough for potential health benefits.”
Men with transitional levels of vitamin D faced higher risk of heart attack compared to those with enough vitamin D levels.