foodconsumer.org: Low vitamin D doubles heart risk in diabetics

Low vitamin D doubles heart risk in diabetics
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admin on 08/24/2009 00:07:00
 
By David Liu (davidl@foodconsumer.org)
A new study suggests that diabetics may be better off taking some vitamin D
supplements because low levels of this vitamin may double the risk of
cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes.
The study was conducted by researchers at Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis and published in the Aug 25 issue of the journal
Circulation.
Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, M.D., a Washington University endocrinologist at
Barnes-Jewish Hospital and colleagues found that diabetics deficient in vitamin
D can't process cholesterol normally. As a result, cholesterol builds up in
blood vessels raising the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Vitamin D at certain levels is supposed to inhibit the uptake of cholesterol by
cells called macrophages. Without sufficient vitamin D, the macrophage cells eat
more cholesterol than they normally do and they can't get rid of it and get
clogged with cholesterol stiffening blood vessels and blocking blood flow.
People with diabetes are more likely than healthy people to be deficient in
vitamin D. According to a news report released Aug 21 by the University, the
likelihood of low vitamin D levels in women with diabetes is a third higher than
those with the disease.
It has been known that diabetes patients are more likely than those without the
disease to die from heart attack. The current study suggests that the missing
link could be the status of vitamin D.