A recent study warned that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of death, and that raising the levels of the vitamin in the human body to the medically agreed minimum levels may severely reduce these risks.
British and Australian researchers used a Mendelian randomization approach, which uses genetic variants as “surrogate indicators” of external factors that affect vitamin D levels, such as sun exposure or dietary intake.
They examined data from a large number of patients, which allowed analysis of the relationship between vitamin deficiency and outcomes, including mortality, which could not be performed in randomized clinical trials for ethical reasons.
The results revealed an association between genetically predicted vitamin D levels and mortality, among several other major causes, with evidence for this among people whose body concentrations were measured below 50 nmol/L.
The researcher involved in the study, Dr. Elena Hypponen, said: “I advise everyone with vitamin D levels less than 50 nmol/L to increase their levels, and there is no need to raise it significantly, if we can raise the levels to suit the current American recommendations only, this means that there is no need to use large doses of vitamin-containing supplements.
She added, “It is clear that supplements help, especially during the winter season or if a person does not get enough vitamin D from the sun or in places where food is not fortified with vitamin D,” noting that the data do not support the approach to using high doses. intermittent large.
She continued: “Sometimes doctors may want to quickly treat low vitamin levels by taking a large dose, followed by smaller doses, but mounting evidence indicates that this approach is not helpful and may disturb the body’s metabolism so that it cannot get the amount that it needs. He needs it. It’s true that the process is generally safe, but it may not work the way we want.”