MONDAY, Dec. 1, 2008 (Health.com) — Want to avoid a heart attack or stroke? In addition to well-known risk factors like diet and exercise, you may want to keep an eye on your vitamin D levels too.
Low levels of the “sunshine vitamin”—so nicknamed because we get most of our vitamin D from sunlight—may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a report published Monday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
About 30% to 50% of American children and adults don’t get enough vitamin D, says coauthor James O’Keefe, MD, cardiologist and director of preventative cardiology at the Mid America Heart Institute, in Kansas City, Mo.
“Society has been slow to respond to the pleas of vitamin D experts for years,” Dr. O’Keefe says. “People say, ‘Well, I go outside,’ but the truth is we just aren’t outside enough—or when we are, we’re using sunscreen or wearing protective clothing.”
Small amounts of vitamin D can be consumed through food, such as fish, cod liver oil, and fortified milk and juice. But to achieve the daily 1,000 to 2,000 international units (IUs) that most people need, a dietary supplement is almost always necessary, according to the report. Oral doses of up to 2,000 IUs a day are considered safe and are available over the counter.
Comments (3)
I totally agree. There are so many vitamins that are essencial for good health. With a busy life, it’s not always the case where we eat all the fruits and veggies we need to keep healthy. I don’t know if you’ve heard of Kyani Sunrise, but it’s a natural organic drink that provides high levels of antioxidents and vitamins that we need for the day. I personally prefer a drink to pills, especially when they are natural.
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I’m not sure if I’m getting enough vitamin d. I do not want to get cardiovascular disease from not getting enough vitamin d.