Too much vitamin D may be unhealthy

The amount of vitamin D in a person's blood has an impact on the risk of cardiovascular death. However, a lack of vitamin D is as bad as an excessive level. These are the findings of a Danish study published in the "Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism".

For the study, the researchers at the University of Copenhagen studied the level of vitamin D in 247,574 Danes, analysing their levels of vitamin D mortality rate over a seven-year period after taking the initial blood sample. During that time, 16,645 patients died.

The study confirmed that there was indeed a correlation between mortality rates and too low levels of vitamin D, but the new finding was that the level of vitamin D could also be too high. "If your vitamin D level is below 50 or over 100 nanomol per litre, there is a greater connection to deaths," explained study author Peter Schwarz.

"Levels should be somewhere in between 50 and 100 nanomol per litre, and our study indicates that 70 is the most preferable level," Schwartz added. In order to prevent too-high or too-low levels, one should therefore only consume vitamin D supplements in close coordination with our GP, he advised.

From http://www.merckmedicus.com/