10 Health Benefits of Vitamin D

Here are ten health benefits of vitamin D:

Cardiovascular Health: Vitamin D regulates immune and inflammatory cells, helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis and controlling high blood pressure by keeping arteries flexible and relaxed .
Reduced Heart Attack Risk: Men with the lowest levels of vitamin D were twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to those with the highest levels, according to a 10-year follow-up study of nearly 50,000 healthy men .
Decreased Risk of Strokes: Meta-analyses have shown that people with the lowest serum levels of vitamin D had a significantly increased risk of strokes and other heart disease events compared to those with the highest levels .
Fracture Prevention in Older Adults: Higher intakes of vitamin D supplements (500-800 IU per day) reduced hip and non-spine fractures by about 20% in people aged 65 and older .
Colon Cancer Risk Reduction: Higher serum levels of vitamin D are associated with substantially lower rates of colon cancer, with studies indicating that low vitamin D levels might increase colon cancer risk .
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention: Higher vitamin D blood levels are associated with lower rates of Type 2 diabetes, with studies indicating that a combination of vitamin D and calcium intake significantly reduces the risk of developing the disease .
Multiple Sclerosis Risk Reduction: Higher vitamin D serum levels have been associated with a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis, with studies indicating up to a 62% lower risk in those with the highest levels .
Type 1 Diabetes Risk Reduction: Vitamin D supplementation during infancy has been linked to a nearly 90% lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes, and higher serum levels in adulthood are associated with a lower risk of adult-onset T1D .
Reduced Respiratory Infections: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to an increased likelihood of respiratory infections, while higher vitamin D levels and supplementation may help reduce the incidence of conditions like the flu and the common cold .
Reduced Overall Mortality: Taking vitamin D supplements has been associated with a statistically significant reduction in overall mortality rates, potentially driven by a reduction in cancer mortality .