Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms – How does low vitamin D affect your heart?
Lisa Nelson RD #9: Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms – Is there a connection between vitamin D and heart disease? What level vitamin D should individuals maintain to prevent heart problems?
Dr. Shelby-Lane: It is a known and documented fact that too little Vitamin D puts the heart at risk. Yet many patients are not routinely tested, and if so, they do not take the proper steps to reach optimal Vitamin D levels between 50 to 100 ng/dL. Most lab tests give 30 as a low normal, yet this is not optimal. This can by done by diet, sun exposure (in most cases) or adequate supplementation. But most of all, people are not tested. Research suggests Vitamin D deficiency may be an unrecognized heart disease risk factor.
Researchers say a growing body of evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of heart disease and is linked to other, well-known heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.
For example, several large studies have shown that people with low vitamin D levels were twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or other heart-related event during follow-up, compared with those with higher vitamin D levels.
“Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized, emerging cardiovascular risk factor, which should be screened for and treated,” says researcher James H. O’Keefe, MD, director of preventive cardiology at the Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Mo., in a news release. “Vitamin D is easy to assess and supplementation is simple, safe and inexpensive.”
Most of the body’s vitamin D requirements are met by the skin in response to sun exposure. Other less potent sources of vitamin D include foods such as salmon, sardines, cod liver oil, and vitamin D-fortified foods like milk and some cereals. Vitamin D can also be obtained through supplements.
Vitamin D deficiency is on the rise. Vitamin D deficiency symptoms are traditionally associated with bone and muscle weakness, but in recent years a number of studies have shown that low levels of the vitamin may predispose the body to high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and chronic blood vessel inflammation (associated with hardening of the arteries). It also alters hormone levels to increase insulin resistance, which raises the risk of diabetes.
In a review article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers surveyed recent studies on the link between vitamin D deficiency and heart disease to come up with practical advice on screening and treatment.
They concluded that vitamin D deficiency is much more common than previously thought, affecting up to half of adults and apparently healthy children in the U.S.
Researchers say higher rates of vitamin D deficiency may be due in part to people spending more time indoors and efforts to minimize sun exposure through the use of sunscreens. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 blocks approximately 99% of vitamin D synthesis by the skin.
“We are outside less than we used to be, and older adults and people who are overweight or obese are less efficient at making vitamin D in response to sunlight,” says O’Keefe. “A little bit of sunshine is a good thing, but the use of sunscreen to guard against skin cancer is important if you plan to be outside for more than 15 to 30 minutes of intense sunlight exposure.”
Testing for Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D levels can be measured with a blood test for a specific form of vitamin D called 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D). Vitamin D deficiency is defined as a blood 25(OH)D level below 20 ng/dL. Normal levels are considered to be above 30 ng/dL.
Again, criteria for optimal levels is between 50 to 100 ng/dl.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
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I saw the dr. today my vitamin d level is 12, I didn’t know anything about this different levels, but it scare me that mine is only 12 when it should be between 50-100..I was told to take 2000 grams 3 x a day..I am definately going to start walking and my chol is 230 not good. but thank you for this article I learn something today.
Hi Marty,
Good luck as you take steps to raise your vitamin D levels and lower cholesterol. You may want to check out the e-course How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Thank you very much for your valuable information. I just had my physical, everything was normal, except my vitamin D, 25-hydroxy result was 14.2. My hdl level was very good 66, cholesterol was 191, vldl was 20, ldl could be lower [ 105}.My physcian recommened a 1000 units per day, is that enough? & mentioned to repeat the teat in 4 – 6 months! the ref range on my blood test was 32.0-100.00
Kind regards,
Robert Lerman
Hi Robert,
Let me give you a little info regarding Vitamin D supplementation:
Vitamin D Supplementation – Research shows vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) has superior absorption and efficacy at replenishing low vitamin D levels versus vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). However, currently only vitamin D2 is available by prescription. Vitamin D3 is available over-the-counter. When you are severely deficient higher levels of Vitamin D may be needed, such as 5,000 IU’s of D3 daily. You want to combine Vitamin D supplementation with Calcium, such as 500 mg calcium 3 x day. Discuss your questions regarding the appropriate level of vitamin D and calcium supplementation with your physician.
Optimal vitamin D level is between 50-100 ng/ml. If you begin with supplementation of 5000 IU, once you reach 32 ng/ml you could taper off your supplementation to 2000-3000 IU’s per day and monitor your vitamin D levels with the goal of a continued increase until between 50-100 ng/ml. Supplementation needs may alter once spring/summer months arrive and you can increase time spent in the sun. Usually 10-15 minutes of sun exposure daily is enough to meet vitamin D needs. Keep in mind if you have any underlying health issues that are interfering with your production of vitamin D a supplement may always be necessary. Definitely work with your physician to monitor your vitamin D levels and adjust your supplement level as needed.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
http://lisanelsonrd.com
Hi Lisa, back in March I had my first set of heart palpitations. 48 hours on the Holden monitor showed no dangerous rhythms. After some online research, I asked my doctor to check my vitamin levels. She said she didn’t see the correlation, but she’d run the tests. My vitamin D level was a 7. So, I am on 5,000IU of vitamin D3 daily. I was hoping that would help solve me having any more heart issues. 2 weeks ago, after being sick with nausea and diarrhea for 5 days, I actually went into A-fib, heart rate jumped to 160-180. I did not have to be shocked back into rhythm, it just went back on its own. ER doc said all the tests came back normal and wanted to put me on medication..I told him no. I went to a cardiologist who said that my potassium level in the ER was actually low…way to go ER doc. So he put me on 16 meq of potassium daily. I also decided to start taking a multi-vitamin with at least 100 mg of magnesium, even though I know I should get more. The only other things worth noting are that my blood pressure has actually gone from normal range to a bit lower in the past year, my cholesterol levels are ok, I weigh 275 lbs, but have lost 34 pounds in the past 6 months. Do you think I am doing all I can to help prevent more heart weirdness? Do you see something in these results that my PCP doesn’t? Thanks for your time.
Hi Faith,
Congratulations on the 34 pound weight loss! That is definitely a step in the right direction for overall heart health. It sounds like you are on the right track correcting deficiencies. I encourage you to work with your doctor to monitor your levels as you go to ensure everything (potassium, vitamin D), etc. are returning to normal. You may also want to discuss micronutrient lab work as an extra precaution.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
http://lisanelsonrd.com
Hey Lisa,
I just got my vit D tested n i got it as deficient i mean less than 3. I was having muscle pain n weight gain n dizziness. But after seeing my result I m really worried now cause i m just 21 yrs old n I don’t want to be obese and don’t want any heart problem, so can u please suggest something for me.
Hi Dr Lisa, i just had a blood test and my 25-OH D came 11! Thats too low isnt it? I have Tiroide problems and I take a medicine for that but on the exam my TSH level came very high, i think my doctor should increase my medication isnt it? I want to know if this low level of Vitamin D is dangerous, because I’ve been experiencing some things that im not sure is related to this, irritation, depression, pain in my body specially in my back and im always tired!
my vitamin d level is zero and no change, this is the 2nd year i wake up and can’t move my legs the pain is severe and the muscles feel like they are in knots. if it wasn’t for husband i would be sitting in my urine and deficate all over my self
i has a rougyen g bypass and it has been down hill since
please i beg you to help me some how. what can i do i eat drink sleep
and can’t move