- ALLERGY, RESPIRATORY
- Molecule in Skin May Link Eczema and Asthma
- New Spray Could Benefit Cystic Fibrosis Patients
- Keep Asthma, Allergies at Bay for the Holidays
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
- Massage Therapy Helps Those With Advanced Cancer
- Pain-Relieving Powers of Acupuncture Unclear
- Music Therapy For Prehistoric Man?
- ANIMAL CARE
- 'Comfort Dogs' Come to Emotional Rescue
- Safe Toys for Dogs
- Separation Anxiety, Canine-Style
- BONES & JOINTS
- Body Fat, Muscle Distribution Linked to RA Disability
- Cane Use May Cut Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis
- Studies Struggle to Gauge Glucosamine's Worth
- CANCER
- Vitamin D May Lower Colon Cancer Risk
- Gene Studies Reveal Cancer's Secrets
- Supplements Might Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
- CAREGIVING
- Tainted China Formula Caused High Rate of Kidney Stones in Kids
- High Rate of Rehospitalizations Costing Billions
- With Age Comes Greater Risk of Hypothermia
- CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
- Grapefruit-Heavy Diet Helped Spur Dangerous Clot
- Vitamins Do Older Women Little Good
- An Apple a Day May Help Keep Heart Disease Away
- COSMETIC
- Study Evaluates Laser Therapies for Hair Removal
- Science May Banish Bad Hair Days
- Contact Lenses Boost Kids' Self-Image
- DENTAL, ORAL
- Amino Acid May Be Key to Strong Teeth
- Laser Technology Spots Cavities Before They Start
- Rheumatoid Arthritis May Harm Gums
- DIABETES
- Americans Consuming More Sugary Beverages
- Lifestyle Factors Tied to Older Adults' Diabetes Risk
- Spices, Herbs Boost Health for Diabetics
- DIET, NUTRITION
- Proven Strategies for Avoiding Colds and the Flu
- Fruits, Vegetables, Teas May Cut Smokers' Cancer Risk
- DASH Diet Has Extra Benefits for Women's Health
- DISABILITIES
- Review Finds Marijuana May Help MS Patients
- Could Your Cell Phone Help Shield You From Alzheimer's?
- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
- Population-Based Strategy Urged to Cut U.S. Obesity Rate
- Disinfectants Can Boost Bacteria's Resistance to Treatment
- Common Pesticide Tied to Development Delays in Kids
- EYE CARE, VISION
- Nearly 18 Million Will Have Macular Degeneration by 2050
- Protein Might One Day Prevent Blindness
- Autistic Children Make Limited Eye Contact
- FITNESS
- Keep Safety in Mind While Your Kids Are Cooling Off in the Water
- Fliers Can Keep Blood Clots at Bay
- Fitness Fades Fast After 45
- GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS
- New Yogurt May Ease Stomach Ulcers
- Soothing Imagery May Help Rid Some Kids of Stomach Pain
- HRT Use Raises Risk of Stomach Trouble
- GENERAL HEALTH
- Want Sun Protection? Wear Red or Blue
- Good Sleepers More Likely to Eat Right
- Life Expectancy in U.S. Hits New High
- HEAD & NECK
- Many Children Will Outgrow Headaches
- Ski Helmets Encouraged for All
- Zen May Thicken Brain, Thwart Pain
- HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY
- 'Comfort Dogs' Come to Emotional Rescue
- 'Cell Phone Elbow' -- A New Ill for the Wired Age
- Airport Full Body Scanners Pose No Health Threat: Experts
- HEART & CARDIOVASCULAR
- Fondness for Fish Keeps Japanese Hearts Healthy
- Risk Factor for Stroke More Common Among Whites
- Vigorous Exercise Cuts Stroke Risk for Men, Not Women
- INFECTIOUS DISEASE
- Bacterial Infections May Succumb to Honey
- Swine Flu Is Now a Pandemic Says W.H.O.
- Swine Flu Loves a Crowd
- KID'S HEALTH
- Pregnant Women Exposed To Certain Pollutants Could Lower Childs IQ
- Obesity May Raise Kids' Allergy Risk
- Traffic, Dust Linked to Asthma in Kids
- MEN'S HEALTH
- Noise Hurts Men's Hearing More, Study Shows
- More Vitamin C May Mean Less Chance of Gout
- The Dark Side of Vegetarianism
- MENTAL HEALTH
- Bullying Seems to Affect Kids Years Later
- Fear Response May Stem From Protein in Brain
- Drink Away Dementia?
- PAIN
- Alleviating Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Are We Exercising Pain Away? Not So Much.
- 'Cell Phone Elbow' -- A New Ill for the Wired Age
- PREGNANCY
- Acupuncture May Relieve Acid Indigestation In Pregnancy
- Woman in America Are Delaying Motherhood, Study Says
- Before Conceiving, Take Folic Acid for One Full Year
- SENIORS
- 15-Point Test Gauges Alzheimer's Risk
- Tai Chi and Qigong Offer Many Health Benefits: Review
- Daily dose of beet juice promotes brain health in older adults
Boosting Vitamin D Can Do a Heart Good
By eholistic.com Published: 03/16/2010
New research suggests that extra vitamin D could make a major difference in heart disease risk among people who have low levels of the nutrient.
Researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray, Utah, report in two new studies that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of other chronic diseases, too.
"Vitamin D replacement therapy has long been associated with reducing the risk of fractures and diseases of the bone," study author Dr. J. Brent Muhlestein, director of cardiovascular research, said in a center news release. "But our findings show that vitamin D could have far greater implications in the treatment and reduction of cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions than we previously thought."
The researchers found that patients who boosted their vitamin D levels to 43 nanograms per milliliter of blood or higher reduced their rates of diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure and heart disease. They were also less likely to die during the study period.
According to the researchers, a level of 30 nanograms per milliliter of vitamin D is considered normal.
"Although randomized trials would be useful and are coming, I feel there is enough information here for me to start treatment based on these findings," Muhlestein said, adding that increasing vitamin D intake by 1,000 to 5,000 international units a day may be a good idea in some cases.
The findings are scheduled to be presented Monday at the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting in Atlanta.
SOURCE: Intermountain Medical Center, press release, March 15, 2010.
Last Updated: March 15, 2010
