Heart disease is the number one cause of death for adults over the age of 65. At the same time, many older people have low levels of vitamin D in their blood.
For years, scientists have noticed a link between low vitamin D and a higher risk of heart disease, leading many to believe that vitamin D supplements might protect the heart.
However, a major new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has found that even high doses of vitamin D do not lower the risk of heart disease.
The study focused on two proteins in the blood that are signs of heart strain and damage. If vitamin D could reduce these proteins, it might mean a lower risk of heart problems. But the results showed no such benefit.
This research was published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology and was based on a high-quality, double-blind, randomized trial. This means neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was getting what dose of vitamin D, which helps ensure reliable results.
Dr. Katharine W. Rainer, the lead author, explained that while earlier observational studies suggested a connection between low vitamin D and heart problems, this more rigorous trial clearly showed that vitamin D supplements did not change heart disease markers, even when taken in high amounts for two years.
The team analyzed data from the Study to Understand Fall Reduction and Vitamin D in You (STURDY), which was designed to see if vitamin D3 could help reduce falls in people aged 70 and older with low vitamin D levels.
The trial ran from 2015 to 2019 and was sponsored by the U.S. National Institute on Aging. Participants were randomly placed into four groups that received either 200, 1000, 2000, or 4000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 each day.
At the start of the study, and at several points over the next two years, researchers measured the blood levels of two proteins linked to heart disease.
While participants with lower vitamin D levels had higher levels of one of these proteins at the beginning, taking vitamin D supplements did not reduce these proteins over time—no matter how much they took.
The results were the same across all groups, regardless of age, sex, race, or health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Dr. Stephen P. Juraschek, the study’s senior author, noted that while low vitamin D is linked to heart disease, the real reason might have more to do with lifestyle factors such as outdoor physical activity rather than vitamin D levels alone.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that simply taking vitamin D pills will not prevent heart disease.
While maintaining healthy vitamin D levels is still important for bone health and overall wellness, this research suggests that other strategies—such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and managing blood pressure—may be more effective in protecting the heart.
For those interested in heart health, other studies suggest that foods like apple juice and yogurt may offer benefits, and nutrients like zinc and vitamin B6 have been linked to a lower risk of death from heart disease.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about This diabetes drug may increase heart failure risk and Common diabetes drug can also prevent heart and kidney diseases.
For more about heart health, please read studies about Aspirin and heart failure: what you should know and This diabetes drug could protect heart and kidney health.
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