Home / Health / Vitamin D Breakthrough: Heart Attack Survivors Cut Risk of Repeat Attack by 52%
Vitamin D Breakthrough: Heart Attack Survivors Cut Risk of Repeat Attack by 52%
11 Nov
Summary
- Heart attack survivors with optimized vitamin D levels saw 52% drop in repeat heart attack risk
- Over half required high daily vitamin D3 doses of 5,000 IU to reach target blood levels
- Researchers tailored vitamin D3 supplements for each participant based on regular blood tests
According to a groundbreaking new study conducted by researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, heart attack survivors who had their vitamin D levels closely monitored and optimized with personalized vitamin D3 supplements saw their risk of a subsequent heart attack cut by 52%.
The study, which followed over 600 heart attack survivors for an average of four years, found that the majority (85%) had insufficient vitamin D levels at the start. To reach the target blood level of 40-80 ng/mL, over half of the participants required a high daily dose of 5,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 - well above the standard 600-800 IU recommendation.
Researchers say the key to the dramatic results was tailoring the vitamin D3 dosage for each individual based on regular blood tests, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. They closely monitored participants to prevent any risk of vitamin D toxicity.
In contrast, the control group receiving standard care without vitamin D management saw an 18.4% rate of major cardiac events like heart attack, stroke or death, compared to just 15.7% in the personalized vitamin D3 group. Experts believe vitamin D's anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits are the driving factors behind the reduced heart attack risk.
