by Genevra Pittman, updated 4 September 2012NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - despite numerous studies linking higher levels of blood vitamin d heart attacks and deaths, a new trial found giving daily older women of d supplementation did not cut heart risk.
Women's cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose was not lower after one year to take one of the two doses of vitamin D than those who took placebo free of vitamin pills.
What is called observational studies, which measure vitamin d in the blood of the people and then follow them over time - tend to find a link between heart health and vitamin levels.
"There is a tremendous amount of epidemiological data showing a relationship between low levels of vitamin d and an increased risk of cardiovascular events," said Dr. Michel Chonchol, who studied this association at the University of Colorado Denver, but was not involved in the new research.
But these types of testing can prove the cause-effect because it is impossible to take into account all possible food and lifestyle differences between people with lower and higher vitamin D levels.
Randomised controlled trials, regarded as the "gold standard" studies of medicine, were designed to circumvent this obstacle. By dividing a group of people at random and give some but not for others a special treatment, researchers can better hone in on its specific effects.
For new trial, Adrian Wood of the University of Aberdeen in Britain and colleagues divided 305 sixties women into three groups. Every morning for a year, the women took either 400 units International (UI) or 1000 IU of vitamin d or a placebo.
Participants were returned to the laboratory every two months for a panel of heart tests.
In the study, women in each group were similar on most measures of health. Women in the placebo group, for example, had 152 pounds in weight, blood pressure and total cholesterol of 128/78 of 238.
The next year, cholesterol levels and blood pressure vary according to the season - but not based on knowledge if the women were taking additional vitamin d.
Ultimately, no there was no clear difference between the three groups of changes in cardiac markers, the wood team reported in the Journal of the clinical endocrinology & metabolism.
The study did not look far enough or have enough women, to determine if vitamin d could affect heart attack or death.
Food sources of vitamin d are cod liver oil and other fish and fortified juices and dairy products.
The Institute of Medicine recommends that most adults is 600 IU of vitamin d per day. In a report of 2010, he found there is strong evidence linking vitamin d and calcium for a better bone health but that the other benefits offered, including blood pressure and cardiovascular disease are provided.
However, some researchers believe taking additional vitamin D - especially for people who have very low levels first - can help prevent inflammation of the body and to play a role in the regulation of blood sugar.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/ODc3xc Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & metabolism, August 3, 2012 online.
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