(Found at Salt Lake Trib Today - Since Chicken Eggs are one of the few foods that produce Vitamin D, thought I'd share)
Vitamin D can prevent heart disease, kidney failure, other ills, Utah research finds
By Heather May
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 03/15/2010 03:57:50 PM MDT
Vitamin D shortage tied to diseases
Oct 26:
Study: 1 in 5 kids gets little vitamin D
Taking vitamin D supplements could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney failure, depression and death, according to research by Intermountain Medical Center.
In a presentation made today at the American College of Cardiology's annual conference in Atlanta, researchers showed that patients who increased their vitamin D levels to 43 nanograms per milliliter of blood or higher reduced their risks of the chronic diseases.
That is higher than the amount that is considered "normal," which is 30 nanograms.
Most Utahns don't even reach that benchmark: Two-thirds of residents are vitamin-D deficient, Intermountain researchers have previously estimated. That's likely because the vitamin is found in few foods and mainly comes from sun exposure. But sunscreen blocks absorption.
Vitamin supplements are inexpensive. One of the authors of the study, Brent Muhlestein, director of cardiovascular research at Intermountain, said in a news release that taking 1,000 to 5,000 international units a day might be appropriate.
First, patients should have their vitamin D levels checked through a blood test. The tests are typically covered by insurance if deemed medically necessary.
Today's presentation followed earlier research at Intermountain that found having low levels of vitamin D made patients more likely to develop heart failure or coronary artery disease, or have a stroke.
Vitamin D can prevent heart disease, kidney failure, other ills, Utah research finds
By Heather May
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 03/15/2010 03:57:50 PM MDT
Vitamin D shortage tied to diseases
Oct 26:
Study: 1 in 5 kids gets little vitamin D
Taking vitamin D supplements could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney failure, depression and death, according to research by Intermountain Medical Center.
In a presentation made today at the American College of Cardiology's annual conference in Atlanta, researchers showed that patients who increased their vitamin D levels to 43 nanograms per milliliter of blood or higher reduced their risks of the chronic diseases.
That is higher than the amount that is considered "normal," which is 30 nanograms.
Most Utahns don't even reach that benchmark: Two-thirds of residents are vitamin-D deficient, Intermountain researchers have previously estimated. That's likely because the vitamin is found in few foods and mainly comes from sun exposure. But sunscreen blocks absorption.
Vitamin supplements are inexpensive. One of the authors of the study, Brent Muhlestein, director of cardiovascular research at Intermountain, said in a news release that taking 1,000 to 5,000 international units a day might be appropriate.
First, patients should have their vitamin D levels checked through a blood test. The tests are typically covered by insurance if deemed medically necessary.
Today's presentation followed earlier research at Intermountain that found having low levels of vitamin D made patients more likely to develop heart failure or coronary artery disease, or have a stroke.
