BMJ  2008;336:62 (12 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.39454.636192.DB

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Lack of vitamin D raises risk of heart disease and worsens prognosis for some cancers

¹ London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Vitamin D deficiency is well known to be associated with osteoporosis, but two studies published this week have shown that lack of the "sunshine vitamin" also increases the risk of heart disease and is linked to poorer prognosis for some cancers.

A follow-up study of 1739 offspring of the original participants in the Framingham heart study, with no cardiovascular disease, showed that those with low concentrations of vitamin D (below 15 ng/ml) had twice the risk of a first cardiovascular event, such as a myocardial infarction, heart failure or stroke, in the five years from baseline than those with higher concentrations (Circulation doi: 10.1161.circulationaha.107.706127).

After adjusting for the usual cardiovascular risk factors, including high cholesterol concentrations, diabetes, and hypertension, the researchers found that risk of a cardiovascular event remained 62% higher in people with low vitamin D concentrations (hazard ratio 1.62 (95% confidence interval 1.11 to 2.36). The . . . [Full text of this article]

Rapid Responses:

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Vitamin D deficiency causes osteomalacia and not osteoporosis

Karl A Grindulis
bmj.com, 11 Jan 2008 [Full text]

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