Adequate Vitamin D Levels May Help Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Death in Diabetics

Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart. People with diabetes are also more likely to have other conditions that raise the risk for heart disease. A recent study suggests that maintaining adequate blood concentrations of vitamin D may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in diabetics.

For their study, the researchers used data from 6,329 adults with diabetes who took part in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Serum vitamin D levels were evaluated at the beginning of the study. 46.6% of participants were deficient in vitamin D. All deaths, including cardiovascular disease deaths, were recorded during the 14-year follow-up period.

Participants with higher serum levels of vitamin D were found to have a 38% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease death. They were also found to have a 31% decreased risk of all-cause mortality. In addition, they had lower levels of glucose, insulin, and C-reactive protein at baseline.

The study was conducted by researchers from Tongji Medical College.It was published on November 8, 2020 in the journal Diabetes Care.