This Austrian study reveals an alarming link after years of research into vitamin D deficiency. There is danger to life!
A study by the Medical University of Vienna causes discomfort. For years, researchers have collected data to uncover possible consequences of not having enough vitamin D in the body. They come to a disturbing conclusion.
Vitamin D deficiency usually goes unnoticed
Especially in the colder months, we tend to stay indoors. We avoid spending time outside in the cold and in this way miss out on the already sparse sunshine. The result – in most cases hardly noticeable: our body lacks vitamin D.
Researchers from Vienna have now found out what this can lead to. For a study whose results were presented at the “European Association for the Study of Diabetes”, they examined a total of around 80 thousand people between 1991 and 2011.
Vitamin deficiency increases risk of death
In carefully planned research projects, the physicians compared different levels of vitamin D in the body with data from the death register. Their conclusion: A high level of vitamin D deficiency is directly related to increased mortality!
This effect is particularly evident in middle-aged subjects. Too little vitamin D in the body of 45 to 60 year olds can triple the risk of an earlier death. In the other age groups, this connection is somewhat less extreme, but still exists.
This group is particularly at risk
One group is particularly affected: The researchers highlight the disastrous consequences of vitamin D deficiency on diabetics. Here the mortality rate increases by a factor of 4.4! It is therefore particularly important for these people that they have their vitamin balance under control to prevent their vitamin D levels from falling to a dangerously low level.
Finally, some positive news: the effect also works the other way around. The researchers announce that among those examined, mortality fell by 40 percent when the body received enough vitamin D – so always keep an eye on your own household! A little hint: These foods are particularly high in vitamin D.