Posted By: Michelle Kruse
Low Vitamin D Has a Role in Heart Risk
Study Shows Low Levels of Vitamin D May Explain Racial Gap in Cardiovascular Risk
Jan. 7, 2010 — African-Americans are more likely than whites to die of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular causes. Now intriguing new research suggests that low vitamin D levels may help explain this disparity.
Darker-skinned people produce less vitamin D from the sun than those with lighter skin, and studies show that blacks are far more likely to have lower levels of the vitamin than whites.
Several recent studies also suggest that low levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
In an effort to examine the role of vitamin D in the racial disparity in cardiovascular death, researchers analyzed data from a national health and nutrition survey that included more than 15,000 people.
Vitamin D levels were measured at the time the survey was conducted, and the participants were followed for up to 12 years.
