Vitamin D & Cholesterol Levels

There is mixed evidence regarding the link between vitamin D deficiency and high cholesterol, although both factors are linked to heart disease and premature death. According to the Jewish Hospital, 40 percent to 50 percent of the population are vitamin D deficient, which can result in a number of health issues.

Healthy Cholesterol

Although high levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins, also known as bad cholesterol, are associated with cardiovascular disease, low levels of high-density lipoproteins, or good cholesterol, can be even more detrimental to your heart health. Weight loss, exercise and omega-3 fatty acids can help raise your HDL.

According to the American Heart Association, a healthy overall cholesterol level is less than 200 mg/dL, whereas a healthy HDL level is above 60 mg/dL. Your LDL level should be less than 100 mg/dL, and your trigylceride level should be less than 150 mg/dL.

Increased HDL

According to an article published by MedWire News in 2009, low levels of vitamin D are associated with low levels of HDL. The article focused on a cross-sectional study investigating cardiovascular disease markers -- including HDL, triglycerides, and abdominal obesity -- in 257 people. The study found that by increasing vitamin D intake, HDL also significantly increased. According to the study, triglycerides also decreased with increased vitamin D. Further studies are needed to determine the strength of the link.

Evidence Against Link

Although some evidence supports the ability of vitamin D to improve cholesterol levels, an article published by Reuters Health states that evidence is weak. The article focuses on a study conducted by Dr. Swapnil Rajpathak of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. The study compared the effects of vitamin D and calcium vs. placebo in more than 1,000 post-menopausal women over a five-year period. The study found no difference in cholesterol levels between women taking supplements and those taking placebo.

Dangers of Deficiency

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, vitamin D deficiency leads to a substantially increased risk of death. Johns Hopkins researchers conducted a study analyzing the risk of death in 13,000 originally healthy people with varying vitamin D levels. Of the 1,800 participants known to have died by the end of 2000, almost 700 died from heart disease, 400 of whom suffered from a vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency may also raise the risk of breast cancer, depression in the elderly, high blood pressure, rickets and osteomalacia, insulin problems, diabetes risk, obesity, proximal myopathy and muscle pain.

Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D is found in sources such as fish, eggs, fortified milk and cod liver oil. Your body also produces vitamin D through sunlight exposure. As little as 10 minutes per day of sunlight may be enough to prevent deficiency. According to the U.S. Institute of Medicine, a healthy daily intake of vitamin D is between 200 and 400 IU.