Low Vitamin D Increases Heart Attack Risk 49047

BOSTON—Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are associated with a higher risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in a graded manner, even after controlling for factors known to be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health (Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(11):1134). A nested case-control study was conducted in 18,225 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study; the men were aged 40 to 75 years and did not have cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline blood collection. Blood samples were returned between April 1, 1993, and Nov. 30, 1999; 99 percent were received between April 1, 1993, and Nov. 30, 1995. During 10 years of follow-up, 454 men developed nonfatal MI or fatal CHD. After adjustment for matched variables, men deficient in 25(OH)D were at increased risk for MI compared with those considered to be sufficient in 25(OH)D. After additional adjustment for family history of MI, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption, physical activity, history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, ethnicity, region, marine omega-3 intake, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels, this relationship remained significant (P=0.02 for trend). Even men with intermediate 25(OH)D levels were at elevated risk relative to those with sufficient 25(OH)D levels.