Vitamin D Pills Don't Reduce Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke

Vitamin D pills won't help reduce risk of heart attack or stroke, a new study suggests.

The study, conducted by researchers at University of East Anglia (UEA), found that taking vitamin D pills daily did not lower heart attack or stroke risk. Their study was based on data from 5,000 people who were either given a vitamin D supplement or a dummy pill.

Previous research has shown that people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases. The current study finds that older people might slightly benefit from using these supplements, but not everybody needs extra vitamin D in diet.

UEA scientists also looked at data from 21 other randomized trials, which included over 13,000 people. These trials assessed the effects of vitamin D on cardiovascular health.

"Vitamin D is both a hormone and a nutrient in that it can be both made in the body when it is exposed to sunlight and obtained from the foods we eat," said Dr John Ford from UEA's Norwich Medical School.

"It is known to have multiple and complex functions and there has been a lot of interest in the possibility that a lack of vitamin D might predispose a person to higher rates of heart disease and stroke. Several observational studies have provided evidence that cardiovascular patients tend to have lower circulating concentrations of vitamin D but we have shown that this is not a causal relationship. Instead vitamin D levels may be a marker for other risk factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle," said Ford in a news release.

Previous research has shown that low levels of the "sunshine vitamin" can lead to depression and even a high early death risk. According to Office of Dietary Supplements, salmon, tuna, beef liver and egg yolks contain small amounts of vitamin D.