Recent research has shown that not getting enough vitamin D may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke in people with Diabetes.
According to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, diabetics with low levels of vitamin D were at increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke than non-diabetics who were vitamin D deficient.
Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, M.D., and his colleagues specifically studied macrophage cells, a type of white blood cell that helps fight infection and stimulate the immune system.
Results of the study showed that without an adequate amount of vitamin D, macrophage cells in people with Type 2 Diabetes were more likely to absorb excess amounts of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) and turn them into foam cells that can cause plaque to build up in the arteries. Plaque buildup in the arteries is a condition known as atherosclerosis, and it can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Study participants who did not have Diabetes were much less susceptible to the potentially serious effects of vitamin D deficiency.
According to Dr. Bernal-Mizrachi, people with Type 2 Diabetes, especially women, are very likely to have a vitamin D deficiency. Women with Type 2 Diabetes are one-third more likely to have insufficient vitamin D levels than women of the same age who do not have Diabetes.
Other studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency may also be associated with hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Sources of Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency can occur when you do not get enough of it in your diet, or you do not get enough sunlight. When you are exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, your skin makes vitamin D. But those who live in colder climates may not get enough exposure to sunlight during the winter because the days are shorter and more time is spent inside.
In your diet, milk and other fortified foods such as breakfast cereals are the most common sources of vitamin D. You can also take a vitamin D supplement. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D is
- Birth-age 50 = 5 mcg or 200 IU
- Age 51-70 = 10 mcg or 400 IU
- Age 71+ = 15 mcg or 600 IU
It is important to ensure you get enough vitamin D daily, especially if you have Diabetes. Adequate intake of vitamin D can help reduce the risk of heart disease, possibly by slowing or reversing the development of atherosclerosis. Be sure to ask your doctor about being tested for vitamin D deficiency and if you should take a vitamin D supplement.
SUPPORTER