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Our first killer: heart disease
Several studies have linked low levels of vitamin D to an increased risk of heart disease, including heart attacks, peripheral arterial diseases, congestive heart failure and atherosclerosis.
For example, a study conducted by researchers at Harvard University showed that people with low vitamin D levels were twice as likely to have a heart attack as those with adequate vitamin D levels.
This is another example of the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D.
Since inflammation of the arteries is one of the main factors contributing to high blood pressure, arterial lesions, atherosclerosis and, ultimately, heart disease, the anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin D can contribute to protection against our primary cause of death.
Why do so many people miss it?
Unfortunately, vitamin D deficiency is extremely common, especially in the northern hemisphere, where we are less exposed to the sun and where our body cannot always produce enough vitamin D.
In addition, the increasing use of statins has also contributed to our vitamin D deficiencies.
Your body needs cholesterol to make vitamin D. Therefore, if you are taking statins (which prevent the liver from producing cholesterol as it is supposed to), this may most certainly have an effect on your vitamin D level.
In addition, with age, the skin no longer produces as much vitamin D in response to exposure to the sun. At the same time, our kidneys become less effective at converting vitamin D into the form used by the body as we get older.
What now?
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