Vitamin D vital to fighting heart problems

According to a new study, adults with low levels of vitamin D compared to those with higher levels are more likely to die from heart disease or stroke. Vitamin D is found in foods and multivitamins, but is primarily from direct sunlight exposure.

In this study, Dr. Annamari Kilkkinen from the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki, Finland looked at Vitamin D blood levels and deaths from heart disease and stroke. To find out the details of this research study, visit

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=8949607.

The results showed that the tested participants in the study with a low vitamin D intake have a 25 percent higher risk of dying from either heart disease or stroke. According to Kilkkinen, there was a “particularly striking association” between vitamin D levels and the numbers of deaths from stroke.

If you are wondering what a good level of vitamin D is considered to be, the investigators cannot verify. Further study is needed, but this website should give you a better idea of what vitamin D is and its importance to the body:

http://ibdcrohns.about.com/od/relatedconditions/a/fdavitd.htm