By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Wellness

I’ve written a lot over the years about the importance of vitamin D. From cancer prevention to its importance for healthy bones, the value of the sunshine vitamin has been making headlines for the last few years. But, if you think you know everything there is to know about vitamin D, think again.

New evidence points to a link between low vitamin D levels and the risk of dying from a heart attack. While that might not make sense on the surface, it appears that a vitamin D deficiency is involved in the development of atherosclerosis – the narrowing of arteries that ultimately leads to an often fatal heart attack.

Location, Location, Location

Scientists have known for years that people who live in northern climates – where the sun rarely shines during the winter months – are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than folks in warmer locations. Although there are likely several reasons for this, the most compelling is that vitamin D impacts the body in ways that affect the risk of heart attack and heart disease.

To confirm this theory, researchers from Harvard and Brigham and Women’s Hospital reviewed the medical records and blood samples of 454 health professionals, ages 40 to 75, who had suffered a nonfatal heart attack or died of heart disease. The research team also looked at the medical records of 900 other men with no history of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers discovered that vitamin D levels did indeed impact heart health. In fact, the men who had a vitamin D level of 15 nanograms per milliliter of blood or less (vitamin D deficiency) had a significantly higher risk of heart attack compared to those with 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood (vitamin D sufficiency).

D-clining Risk

After additional adjustment for family history of heart attack, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, history of diabetes and hypertension, ethnicity, region, marine omega 3 intake, cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels, “this relationship remained significant,” write the researchers. Even men with borderline vitamin D levels were found to have a greater risk of heart attack than those with sufficient levels.

The study’s authors also said there could be a number of ways in which vitamin D may protect against heart attack. It might lower blood pressure, regulate inflammation, reduce calcification of coronary arteries, affect the heart muscle or even reduce respiratory infections in winter.

The authors conclude their study by noting: “Vitamin D deficiency has been related to an increasing number of conditions and to total mortality. These results further support an important role for vitamin D in myocardial infarction (heart attack) risk. Thus, the present findings add further support that the current dietary requirements of vitamin D need to be increased to have an effect on circulating vitamin D levels substantially large enough for potential health benefits.”

The Lowdown On Vitamin D

While you can find vitamin D in fortified milk and fatty fish, most of us get our daily dose of D from the sun. When ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin, it triggers vitamin D synthesis within our bodies. The problem in modern times, however, is that many of us routinely slather our skin with sunscreen – a practice that prevents the conversion of UV rays to vitamin D. As a result, many people are shortchanging the amount of D they get on a daily basis.

Luckily, it’s easy to find out if you are getting enough of this multi-talented vitamin via a simple blood test. If your levels are low, you can easily boost them with supplements. The ideal amount hasn’t been cast in stone yet – but a growing number of experts advise that most Americans take 1,000 to 1,500 IU of supplemental D every day.

One Last Thing . . .

People with low vitamin D levels may face another cardiovascular risk – the increased possibility for peripheral artery disease (PAD).

PAD occurs when the arteries in the legs become narrowed or clogged with fatty deposits, reducing blood flow to the legs. And it’s more common than you may think. In fact, PAD affects about 8 million Americans and is associated with significant disease and death.

Investigators from Albert Einstein College of Medicine analyzed data from a national survey in which vitamin D levels were measured in 4,839 U.S. adults. Researchers in that survey had also documented ankle-brachial index – a PAD screening tool that measures blood flow to the legs.

What they found was that average vitamin D levels were significantly lower in people with PAD than in those without the condition. Participants with the lowest vitamin D levels were 2.18 times more likely to have PAD than those with the highest levels after adjustment for age, gender and race. In other words, for each 10 nanogram per milliliter decrease blood vitamin D level, there was a 35 percent increase in the prevalence of PAD.

While more study needs to be done to conclusively link vitamin D levels with the risk of developing PAD, taking a proactive approach may be a smart move. Make sure to get at least 1,000 IU of supplemental D daily, especially if you live in an area with cool weather or if you normally wear sunscreen.

This Just In . . .

I’ve always been a fan of Patrick Swayze (my favorite movie – Dirty Dancing of course!). So I was saddened at the reports that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer. Of course, Swayze isn’t alone. The American Cancer Society estimates that 37,680 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. Of those, only five percent will survive for five years after getting a diagnosis – and most will die within a year.

Why is pancreatic cancer so deadly? Because patients rarely know they’re sick before the cancer has reached a late stage. Yet, even with these grim statistics, new findings show that consuming curcumin – the active compound in the curry spice turmeric – can benefit advanced pancreatic cancer victims.

During the eight-week clinical trial, 25 patients were given a proprietary curcumin supplement. By the end of the study, the researchers concluded that curcumin supplements are well tolerated at doses of 8 grams per day for up to 18 months. More importantly, even though curcumin is poorly absorbed by the body, the researchers detected potent activity against pancreatic cancer.

A strong antioxidant, curcumin can be taken in supplement form – and it’s often the best way to ensure you are getting enough on a daily basis. Look for turmeric extracts standardized at 90 to 95 percent curcumin and take 250 to 500 mg. three times per day.

Of course, if you’re just looking for a bit of general cancer protection, you can simply add tumeric to your food. Adding just ¼ to ½ teaspoon of this savory spice to your food each day can boost your levels significantly. Along with increasing the amount of curry you eat, you can also include small amounts of tumeric to soups, stews and casseroles.

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References:

Aggarwal BB, Kunnumakkara AB, Harikumar KB, et al. “Potential of Spice-Derived Phytochemicals for Cancer Prevention.” Planta Medica. 2008 Jul 8. [Epub ahead of print]

Dhillon N, Aggarwal BB, Newman RA, et al. “Phase II Trial of Curcumin in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.” Clinical Cancer Research. 2008; 14:4491-4499.

Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, et al. “25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men: A Prospective Study.” Archives of Internal Medicine 2008; 168:1174-1180.

Melamed ML, Muntner P, Michos ED, et al. “Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and the Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease: Results from NHANES 2001 to 2004.” Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2008;28:1179-1185