02 July 2014
A new review suggests that low vitamin D levels may be associated with an increased risk for all-cause mortality including mortality due to cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The meta-analysis included the results of eight prospective cohort studies from Europe and the US, investi- gating the potential association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and mortality over 4 to 12 years among a total of 26,018 men and women aged between 50 and 79 years (1). The analysis showed that participants with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 1.6 times increased mortality due to all causes com- pared to people with the highest levels. Specifically, cardiovascular-disease-related mortality was 1.4 times higher and cancer-related mortality for people with a history of cancer was 1.7 times higher in participants with the lowest vitamin D levels. There appeared to be a dose response, in that the mortality rate decreased as vitamin D levels rose.
The researchers commented that despite the vitamin D levels strongly varied with country, sex, and season, the association between vitamin D status and all-cause and cause-specific mortality was remarkably consis- tent. Results from a long-term randomized controlled trial addressing longevity may clarify if vitamin D sup- plementation should be recommended to reduce mortality risk in individuals with low vitamin D levels. Re- cently, a systematic review and meta-analysis of 73 observational cohort and 22 intervention studies conclu- ded that low vitamin D levels may increase mortality risk (2). Supplementation with vitamin D3 significantly reduced overall mortality among older adults.
15 January 2013
Emerging scientific evidence supports a number of potential roles for folate in maintaining health, from maternal and fetal health in pregnancy, through childhood, to preventing chronic disease in middle and old age.
10 November 2009
Daily supplements of multivitamins may decrease the risk of food allergies in younger children, says a new study.
28 May 2019
Research suggests that a few nudges to regular eating habits will help synchronize the body’s internal systems. This is called chrono-nutrition. In addition to eating habits, there are several vitamins and nutrients that support overall health when taken at the best time of day to help sync the body’s systems.
