Lower Vitamin D Levels in African Americans May Up Heart Disease Risks
New research suggests that low blood levels of vitamin D may increase a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke, among other serious illnesses such as diabetes, peripheral artery disease, high blood pressure, cancer and kidney disease [1]. Vitamin D is found very rarely in unfortified food, and is mostly produced in the body when sunlight interacts with skin cells. This is particularly concerning for people of color, because the darker the skin the less vitamin D that is produced in the body.
This lower level of production of vitamin D usually is not a problem when people of color are exposed to high levels of sunlight (at low latitudes or near the equator), but becomes a problem when people of color live in places of low sunlight (higher latitudes) or get very little sun exposure.
The jury is still out on this research, but the evidence for a real cause-and-effect relationship between low levels of vitamin D and cardiovascular disease is growing. I think the simplest way to approach this potential health problem for all people and particularly people of color is to have your blood vitamin D level checked by your health care provider; if it is too low, make the proper adjustments to your diet and/or use vitamin supplements to get it within a normal range.
The current recommendation is a daily intake of 400 international units (IUs) of vitamin D for most adults, and 600 IU for those over 70. Some experts are recommending a higher amount for most people — up to 2,000 IU a day — and some are even recommending that African-Americans probably need closer to 3,000 to 4,000 IU a day.
Again, this issue is not yet resolved. But at a minimum, people of color should work with their health care providers to try to get their blood vitamin D level within the current standard of normal limits: 30 to 74 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL); 40ng/mL would be ideal.
As always, be sure to discuss these issues with the primary health care provider who knows your unique health status best. I will continue to keep you posted on this important and evolving issue.
1. Kevin Fiscella, Peter Franks. Vitamin D, Race, and Cardiovascular Mortality: Findings From a National
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12 Comments added to this post |
Comments
unlimited says:
Thanks sharing this important information with simple people! In our time is very difficult to keep healthy ...
April 28th, 2010 at 7:57 PM
Magnet says:
This is so weird you posted this Dr. my friends mother just came home from the hospital and they said she suffered from a vitamin D deficiency as well as cardiac problems! It's all linked together of course, good list of foods! Thanks Dr. Brown.
April 20th, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Anna Maria Cross says:
Excellent article. I'm finding that in addition to a well balanced diet,that natural supplements aid in making sure we have that recommended nutrients our bodies need. I have learned to read the lable on supplements because they are not all created equally. I am currently taking a 100% line of supplements that are doing wonders for my family. The multivitamine is in liquid formula and provides 200IU's (50%) of the daily recommended dose it has also been helping with my daughters seasonal allergies.
April 18th, 2010 at 2:12 PM
tadd says:
I am really glad to have come across your site. Yous posts give food for thought and make us think about really important things.
January 28th, 2010 at 3:34 AM
L says:
Hi Dr. Brown:
Thanks very much for the info. I opened your message because I actually do have a vitamin D deficiency. After a
couple of years of this my Dr has put me on a high dosage of vitamin D. One pill a
week for 10 weeks. I have a couple more weeks to go and then I will get my blood
checked again. However, I am white and not black. I like the sun especially in the
summer but with all we read about cancer I tend to stay more covered than I used to.
Turns out I actually need some sun. I was very interested in what you said about
the heard disease and stroke because I already have high blood pressure. I am
Portuguese and tan quite well, not sure if that matters, but my skin is not really
the whitest of the white.
Can a person living in New England get enough sun outdoors during the winter months?
Thank You,
Dr. Jeff Brown replied:
Very interesting. I guess it was meant for you to read this blog.
I'm happy to have been of some assistance. To answer your question, I doubt you're going to get enough sunlight in New England during the Winter months, but it sound like you're on the right track working closely with your health care provider following your blood vitamin D levels. Additionally as you stated, you must balance getting enough sun with the risk of skin cancer with your lighter skin tone.
Furthermore, you exemplify the fact that vitamin D deficiency can affect anyone -dark or light skin.
January 7th, 2010 at 6:47 PM
KC says:
This is so weird you posted this Dr. my friends mother just came home from the hospital and they said she suffered from a vitamin D deficiency as well as cardiac problems! It's all linked together of course, good list of foods! Thanks Dr. Brown.
January 7th, 2010 at 4:01 PM
Queen Lene says:
I read about this a few years ago, and I'm constantly trying to find ways to get vitamin D for my family. We don't really consume milk, and lately my stomach is not liking fish, so that basically leaves mushrooms, eggs, and orange juice. We live in a climate with cold, cloudy winters so that leaves very little sunlight from Nov-March.
Monniej replied:
maybe the light therapy would be beneficial.
Queen Lene replied:
I've actually considered that. We've even considered relocating to a sunnier state because the lack of sunlight leaves us both moody and depressed waay too often. We are BLACK we are children of the (sun)light! Cold and cloudy does not suit us well! lol.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:59 PM
Monniej says:
thanks dr. jeff! i'm eating most of the foods on the list regularly so i feel much better! lol~ i'll still be asking my doctor to test my vitamin d levels when i have my blood work done, though. great info, as always!
January 7th, 2010 at 3:58 PM
Hannah Drake says:
Hmmmmmm I just started taking this to combat swine flu. Didn't know there were more benefits!
January 7th, 2010 at 3:49 PM
Monnij says:
this makes so much sense, dr. jeff. what about one of those light therapy or plant lamps. i know it's artificial, but if it works on plants could it be helpful? are there any foods the contain the levels of vitamin d we need, or is a supplement the best way to go?
Dr. Jeff Brown replied:
Natural sunlight lamps certainly may help, but vitamin supplement is the most reliable way to get the proper amount of vitamins daily. Here's a list of foods with vitamin D:
http://www.jeffreybrownmd.com/Blog%20Info/Vit-D-Chart.jpg
January 7th, 2010 at 3:47 PM
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vo2ov says:
Ok, thanks a lot for your post. It was of good help to me, hope to hear from you soon again.
May 28th, 2010 at 9:03 PM