By David Liu, PHD

Tuesday Sept 11, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- People with low levels of serum vitamin D are at higher risk for myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, and early death, according to a new study in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

Peter Brøndum-Jacobsen of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark and colleagues conducted the study and found vitamin D levels in the blood were inversely associated with risk of ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, and early death.

For the study, the researchers measured baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in 10,170 men and women from the Danish general population without using vitamin D-fortified foods.  During 29 years of follow-up, 3100 people suffered ischemic heart disease, 1625 myocardial infarction and 6747 died.

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were correlated with high risk of ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, and early death.  Men and women with their serum vitamin D levels at the 1st to 4th percentile (lowest levels), compared to those with their levels at the 50th to 100th percentile, increased risk of ischemic heart disease by 40 percent, myocardial infarction by 64 percent and  early death by 57 percent and fatal ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction combined by 81 percent.

Results from an meta-analyses of 18 and 17 studies, risk of ischemic heart disease and early death in the lowest quartile of vitamin D was increased by 39% and 46% respectively, compared with those in the highest quartile.

The researchers concluded "We observed increasing risk of ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, and early death with decreasing plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. These findings were substantiated in meta-analyses."

Vitamin D has been associated with more than 100 health conditions including heart disease,  myocardial infarction(heart attack), diabetes mellitus, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and depression among others, according to Dr. John Cannell of the Vitamin D Council.

Myocardial infarction occurs when blood supply is reduced due to a dead and damaged section of the heart muscle. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the main cause of myocardial infarction.  

Coronary artery disease also known as coronary heart disease is completely avoidable.  Dr. Dean Ornish used a special diet to treat people with the disease and 99 percent of patients stop progression of the disease or even reverse the condition.  Dr. T Colin Campbell, a Cornell University distinguished nutrition professor also says a plant-based diet can reduce heart disease.