title: Does vitamin D protect against cardiovascular disease?
abstract: Because of its role in maintaining bone density, vitamin D has long been recognized as critical to the health of women, a group at disproportionate risk of osteoporosis. Recent data from epidemiologic and laboratory studies suggest that vitamin D may also protect against the development of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. Because three quarters of US women (and men) have suboptimal vitamin D status, many experts advocate increasing daily recommended intakes from 200-600 IU to at least 1,000 IU, which may indeed be a prudent strategy. However, data from large randomized clinical trials testing sufficiently high doses of this vitamin for cardiovascular disease prevention--as well as to assess the overall balance of benefits and risks of such supplementation--are needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Avenue East, Boston, MA 02215, USA. sbassuk@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Shari S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bassuk
authors.forename: Joann E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Manson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D