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# Stroke is deadly, vitamin D cuts the risk
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/stroke_vitamin_d_0721120427/
- Published: 2012-07-21T17:26:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:15:17.000Z
- Description: Among 8,006 Japanese-American men in Hawaii followed 34 years, those with the lowest dietary vitamin D intake were 22% more likely to have a stroke and 27% more likely to have a thromboembolic stroke than those with the highest. Hemorrhagic stroke showed no significant link.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Vitamins, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Saturday July 21, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking vitamin D supplements may help prevent stroke, according to a new study in the journal of stroke.

The study led by Gotaro Kojima, MD of University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI and colleagues found that of men aged 45 to 68 years, those who had lowest dietary intake of vitamin D were more likely to suffer all stroke, compared to those who had highest dietary intakes of vitamin D, 6.38 versus 5.14 per 1000 person-years during a 34-year follow-up.

The study also found the incidence rate of thromboembolic stroke was 4.36 per 1000 person-years among those who had lowest dietary intake of vitamin D, compared to 3.30 per 1000 person-years among those who had the highest intake.

Using Cox regression and adjusting for a range of potential risk factors including age, total kilocalories, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, pack-years smoking, physical activity index, serum cholesterol, and alcohol intake, the researchers found those who had lowest dietary intake of vitamin D were 22 percent more likely to suffer stroke, and 27 percent more likely to experience thromboembolic stroke, compared to those who had the highest intake.

However, the researchers did not find any significant associations between dietary vitamin D and hemorrhagic stroke.

The Honolulu Heart Program study enrolled 8006 Japanese-American men in Hawaii aged 45 to 68 years at the baseline examination in 1965 to 1968\. During the 34-year follow-up, 960 subjects experienced stroke.

Early studies have linked vitamin D deficiency with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke, according to the authors of the study.

Although vitamin D is available in the form of supplements, the best is the one you make after you are exposed to the sun. It is generally agreed that 15 to 20 minutes of exposure of the face and hands and to the sun at the hottest hours of the day will make you sufficient vitamin D.

Those who do not have chance to get exposed often to the sun may take vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to more than 100 health conditions including heart disease diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer, according to the Vitamin D Council.

Stroke strikes about 800,000 old men and women in the U.S. each year and one in six people who have stroke die from the cardiovascular event. 185,000 survivors are expected to have a second stroke.