Saturday, January 4, 2014

The Devil's in the Details

Vitamin-D Deficiency Linked to Fatal Cardiovascular Disease
The current population-based cohort study enrolled 9949 adults aged 50 to 74 years recruited during regular health checkups at primary-care practices in 2000 to 2002. There were more women than men (59% vs 41%); most participants (59%) had inadequate vitamin-D levels ...
Even after adjustment for other potential confounders, including smoking and physical activity, vitamin-D deficiency still conferred a significant 27% increased risk for total CVD and a 62% increased risk for fatal CVD. However, there was no association between vitamin-D deficiency and nonfatal CVD events.
Individuals with low vitamin-D levels also had a significant 36% increased risk of total CHD and a nonsignificant 33% increased risk of total stroke.
I have been looking at this study again-   (abstract)
The one that claims vitamin D supplementation doesn't help for heart disease-

Well  men got 50 μg per day and women got 20 μg per day.  The most up to date recommendations are 5000 IU per day for people who are deficient.   That's equivalent to 125 μg.

The Institute of Medicine recommends 600 international units of vitamin D for adults, and 800 international units for people over 70. 
No wonder it hasn't been helping.