Friday Sep 12, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new review suggests \vitamin D supplementation helps prevent cardiac failure in older people, but not heart attack and stroke.

The review of 21 studies led by scientists at University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen and University of Dundee in Dundee, United Kingdom  and University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand found vitamin D supplementation associated with 18% reduced risk for cardiac failure.

Previous epidemiological studies have shown low 25-hydroxyvitamin D status is associated with increased cardiovascular events. 

Also, the scientists analyzed data from RECIRD and found vitamin D supplementation was correlated with 25% reduced risk of cardiac failure.

Neither analysis found any reduction in risk of heart attack and stroke associated with vitamin D supplementation.

Vitamin D supplement was used in the RECORD trial at a dose of 800 IU per day with or without calcium supplement at a dose of 1000 mg per day.  

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with more than 100 health conditions or chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus, cancer, depression, autism and infections.  Many vitamin D experts agree that the dose of 800 IU per day is very low and may not be enough to have a protective effect against diseases.  Exposure of bare hands and the face to the sun at the hottest hours of the day can get a person 10,000 IU.  (David Liu, PHD)

John A Ford, Graeme S MacLennan, Alison Avenell, Mark Bolland, Andrew Grey, Miles Witham, for the RECORD Trial Group, Cardiovascular disease and vitamin D supplementation: trial analysis, systematic review, and meta-analysis, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2014