METABOLIC SYNDROME AND THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D
A recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care, found that people who are diagnosed with “metabolic syndrome” (estimated to exist in 33% of Americans) maintaining optimal levels of Vitamin D reduces the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease by 66% and the risk of dying from all causes by 75%.
In addition, the study found that risk of sudden death decreased by 85% and the risk of dying from congestive heart failure by 76%.
Metabolic Syndrome (METs) is a condition defined by the presences of 3 or more of the following conditions:
- central obesity: waist circumference ≥ 102 cm or 40 inches (male), ≥ 88 cm or 36 inches(female)
- dyslipidemia: Triglycerides levels equal to or greater than 1.7 mmol/L (150 mg/dl)
- dyslipidemia: HDL-C less than 40 mg/dL (male), less than 50 mg/dL (female)
- blood pressure equal to or greater than 130/85 mmHg
- fasting plasma glucose equal to or greater than 6.1 mmol/L (110 mg/dl)
The presence of METs increases the risk of developing both type II diabetes and heart disease.
Your vitamin D levels can easily be checked by your physician. Optimum levels should be around 125 nmol/liter or 40-60 ng/ml.
I suggest taking at least 1000 IU of vitamin D-3 daily and checking your levels to make sure that this dose is getting you to the optimum levels described above.
There are several other significant health benefits that are being proposed for Vitamin D. Not only does Vitamin D reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, it helps fight infections of all kinds including, colds and the flu. Vitamin D helps your immune system attack and destroy bacteria and viruses and helps prevent autoimmune diseases.
To the best of health,
Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.
