Around the globe, cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, coronary artery disease, and more are among the leading causes of death. Annually roughly 17.9 million people across the globe die due to complications from heart diseases. This means that roughly 32% of all deaths around the globe are because of CVDs.
Prior peer-reviewed studies have shown that numerous factors like several health conditions, family history, age, diet, and lifestyle combine to influence a person's risks of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Today, researchers discover the link between the risks of developing cardiovascular diseases and vitamin D deficiency. The timely study emphasizes the rapid rise of vitamin D deficiency.
The Surprising Relationship of Cardiovascular Disease and Vitamin D
Australian researchers used a novel analytical approach and discovered another factor that can increase a person's risk of developing CVD. Professor Elina Hypponen, lead author, and director of the Australian Centre for Precision Health, outlined the results of the team's recent study on Medical News Today.
The study published in the journal European Heart Journal, titled "Non-linear Mendelian randomization analyses support a role for vitamin D deficiency in cardiovascular disease risk," found evidence that deficiency in the macronutrient Vitamin D increases blood pressure and consequently risks of CVD.
On the other hand, Hypponen explains that increasing the concentration of Vitamin D will only benefit those who need it. Increasing the concentration to further benefits beyond the suggested national requirements will be minimal, if any.
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Studying CVD and Vitamin D
In the study, the team of researchers investigates whether there is a link between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the risk of developing CVDs. Serum 25(OH)D levels are established markers for vitamin D status.
To test the team's hypothesis, researchers used a novel analytic method that analyzed the data provided by the UK Biobank of the UK's population aged 37-73 years old. The researchers for homogeneity included only self-reported white British participants.
The results were then compared to a control group without CVD diagnosis. Afterward, the team conducted a secondary analysis examining the relationship between serum 25(IH)D concentration levels with the participant's blood pressure.
The study showed that 11.4% of the participants had vitamin D concentrations under 25 nmol\l. More in-depth analysis showed that individuals with serum concentrations at 25 nmol\l had significantly higher risks of CVD than the 35.3% of participants with concentrations of 50-74.9 nmol\l that had lower odds of CVD.
According to the study's authors, the strength of their literature stems from the novel way that they were able to analyze the data. To the team's knowledge, their analysis is a first-of-its-kind genetic analysis that uses a nonlinear framework in hopes of exploring the shape of the association of serum 25(OH)D with CVD risks. Nevertheless, the results of their concluded study may soon lead to new possibilities in managing and treating CVD.
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