The sunshine vitamin and our cardiovascular health
The celebrated “sunshine vitamin,” otherwise known as vitamin D, is commonly praised for its ability to support overall bone strength and immune function, but emerging research also continues to illuminate its benefits related to heart health.
“Traditionally, [vitamin D] is known as something that’s good for the bones, because it helps improve calcium absorption in the bloodstream,” explains Laura Brass, ND. “But it’s been discovered over the years to benefit almost every system in the body—from the immune system to the cardiovascular system.”
The power of vitamin D
This powerhouse vitamin has many essential roles in the body. One of its long-hailed benefits is supporting calcium absorption in the gut for optimal bone health. It also promotes overall muscle strength and repair, and our immune system depends on the nutrient to ward off unwelcome bacteria and viruses.
Recent research also indicates its potential impact on reducing major cardiovascular events among older adults, such as heart failure and hypertension, and suggests a deficiency in vitamin D could raise the risk factor for these diseases.
“Vitamin D is known to help from an arterial perspective,” says Caitlyn Keates, ND. “It helps the blood vessel lining and blood to flow more freely through that lining, thereby reducing a lot of the inflammation that’s within the arterial wall of the heart.”
While research is still emerging, and the connection between vitamin D and heart health is not yet conclusive, Brass says it’s about looking at the nutrient’s significance more holistically.
“D” for deficient
Vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a public health problem around the globe. “When we see patients in practice, I’d say nine times out of 10, we see some sort of deficiency in vitamin D in their bloodwork,” explains Keates.
While our body synthesizes vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight, sunscreen (an obvious skincare essential) can hinder absorption by as much as 90 percent. Other factors such as age can also lessen the amount of the vitamin our skin absorbs. A person in their eighties, for instance, will produce about half as much vitamin D compared to someone in their twenties.
Few foods naturally contain the nutrient. Some of the best whole food sources include fatty fish like salmon and trout, fish liver oils, and egg yolks.
Supplementation
Since adequate vitamin D levels are difficult to obtain from sun exposure and food sources alone, a supplement is often recommended by health professionals.
Brass encourages people to prioritize a supplement containing vitamin D3 (versus D2) which has been shown to be a more effective form of the nutrient.
Keates says the correct daily dosage will fluctuate for each person, and will depend on factors such as age, weight, and level of deficiency (which requires a blood test to determine). Your health care practitioner can help guide you in the right direction.
