Nutritional diseases
Low and high levels of vitamin D associated with cardiovascular deaths, study suggests
Source: Eva-Maria Pasieka/Corbis
Low or high levels of vitamin D (polarised micrograph pictured) may be associated with cardiovascular disease mortality
Vitamin D protects against falls and osteoporotic fractures and has various other purported health benefits, including protection against cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. This has not been conclusively demonstrated, however.
A study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (online, 24 February 2015)[1] suggests that serum levels of vitamin D have a complicated, non-linear, reverse-J-shaped association with CVD mortality. Analysis of nearly 250,000 Danish patients in primary practice, followed-up for seven years, found that CVD mortality risk was lowest at a vitamin D level of 70nmol/L (the mean level for the entire cohort was 49.5nmol/L).
CVD mortality risk was significantly increased at both the lower extreme (~12.5nmol/L) and the higher extreme (~125nmol/L), with adjusted hazard ratios of 2.0 and 1.3, respectively. Whether or not the association is causal is still to be determined.
Citation: The Pharmaceutical Journal DOI: 10.1211/PJ.2015.20068137
Recommended from Pharmaceutical Press
- Previous
- Next
Pathology and Therapeutics for Pharmacists
An practical, integrated approach to the pathophysiological and pharmacotherapeutic principles underlying the treatment of disease.
£54.00Buy now
Lecture Notes in Pharmacy Practice
A comprehensive study guide which summarises the basic principles in pharmacy practice. Clear, bulleted information for quick reference.
£43.00Buy now
MCQs in Pharmacy Practice
A study aid with 800 MCQs. Assess your knowledge, analytical skills, and ability to apply this knowledge base in clinical practice.
£25.00Buy now
FASTtrack: Pharmacology
FASTtrack: Pharmacology is a study guide providing an account of drug action, as well as dealing with molecular pharmacology at a more advanced level.
£28.00Buy now
Chronotherapeutics
Chronotherapeutics discusses the pharmaceutical and therapeutic implications associated with biological clocks in humans.
£38.00Buy now
Print 
PDF
Have your say
For commenting, please login or register as a user and agree to our Community Guidelines. You will be re-directed back to this page where you will have the ability to comment.