Customized Vitamin D Supplementation Can Improve Cardiovascular Health

Targeted doses of Vitamin D offer different benefits for different population groups.

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A recent study suggests that personalized vitamin D supplementation could help improve heart health. Researchers found that targeted doses, especially for non-Western populations, older adults, and those with low baseline levels, may “significantly” reduce cardiometabolic risks.

This approach could change preventive strategies for cardiovascular diseases, a leading global health concern.

Customized Vitamin D Strategies

A study published in the journal Engineering shows implications for personalized therapeutic strategies targeting cardiovascular diseases and associated risks through vitamin D supplementation. The comprehensive review analyzed 99 randomized controlled trials involving 17,656 participants.

The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 400 international units (IU) for children up to 12 months old, 600 IU for those ages 1 to 70 years, and 800 IU for those older than age 70. However, researchers found that vitamin D supplementation, with a median dose of 3,320 IU daily, correlated with favorable changes in various cardiometabolic risk factors.

Improvements included reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, average blood sugar levels over three months, and fasting blood insulin.

The benefits of vitamin D supplementation were more pronounced in specific demographic groups. The most substantial effects were observed among:

• Non-Western populations
• People with baseline vitamin D levels below 15 nanograms per milliliter
• Those with a body mass index below 30
• People ages 50 and older

The study authors underscored the necessity for personalized vitamin D intervention strategies that consider individual characteristics such as ethno-cultural background, age, body mass index, and baseline vitamin D levels. They also noted that longer intervention durations (three months or more) and higher doses could optimize cardiometabolic health outcomes in targeted populations.

These findings could lead to advancements in preventive medicine and nutritional sciences, potentially resulting in more effective public health strategies. By customizing vitamin D supplementation based on individual characteristics, health care providers might enhance the efficacy of interventions to reduce cardiometabolic disease prevalence.

The researchers recommend future studies to investigate the mechanisms behind the observed effects and explore the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation on chronic diseases. They also stress the importance of examining long-term impacts and potential risks associated with high-dose supplementation.

Risk Factors

Although some observational studies and meta-analyses, such as this study, show an association between a low vitamin D status and the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular events, most randomized trials have not shown a cardiovascular benefit from vitamin D supplementation, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, chief medical adviser for Fortune Recommends Health, told The Epoch Times.

“The ongoing theory is that vitamin D may support heart health by lowering inflammation and controlling blood pressure, which might reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries,” he said. “Still, more research is needed to confirm why this happens.”

In addition to vitamin D levels, according to Dasgupta, other critical factors that may affect cardiovascular health are:

• High blood pressure: It can damage arteries.
• Cholesterol imbalance: Too much “bad” (LDL) cholesterol and too little “good” (HDL) cholesterol can cause plaque buildup, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Lifestyle choices: These include smoking, lack of exercise, poor diet, and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Poorly controlled diabetes: High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and nerves linked to the heart.
• Being overweight: It can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Supplementation Not Recommended for Everyone

“Taking vitamin D supplements just to prevent heart disease isn’t generally recommended for everyone,” Dasgupta said.

“While keeping vitamin D levels within a healthy range is important for overall well-being, especially for bone health, there isn’t strong evidence that it directly lowers the risk of heart disease. It’s best to talk to a health care provider about whether you need a supplement, especially if you are at risk of deficiency or have other health issues.”

He advised following a “well-rounded approach” to heart health, which includes:

• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Engaging in regular exercise
• Managing risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol

Supplementation might be beneficial for people with low vitamin D levels, but Dasgupta stressed that supplementation should be based on specific health needs. It’s important to note that people can also overdose on this critical nutrient. Taking 60,000 IU a day of vitamin D for several months has been shown to cause toxicity.