Research has found that people with low levels of vitamin D in their blood are more likely to develop heart disease than people with high levels. Because of this, there’s been a lot of interest in taking vitamin D supplements for heart health. But do they work?
Unfortunately, most evidence says no. In fact, a recent meta-analysis of 21 clinical trials including over 83,000 patients shows that taking vitamin D supplements doesn’t reduce the risk for heart disease, including heart attack, stroke, and heart failure for most people. This new data aligns with the existing body of research showing similar results.
If patients are interested in ways to reduce their risk for heart disease, tell them that taking vitamin D supplements probably won’t help. But there are other ways to reduce risk. There’s supportive evidence for several diets, including the DASH Diet and Mediterranean Diet. For more details, check out our Comparative Effectiveness Chart.
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