How To Increase Vitamin D To Relieve Heart Problems

As many as 30 to 50 percent of all Americans suffer from vitamin D deficiency, according to an article published jointly by researchers from the Mayo Clinic, Boston University, among others, in the August 2008 issue of the "Journal of the American College of Cardiology." Vitamin D, best known for its role in building strong bone, may also play a part in preventing heart disease, researchers reported. To prevent or treat heart disease, talk to your doctor before taking vitamin D in amounts higher than the recommended daily dose.

Step 1

Check your serum levels of vitamin D. The form of vitamin D best assessed in blood tests is 25-hydroxyvitamin D, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, ODS. Your doctor can order a vitamin D blood test.

Step 2

Review your results with your doctor. If your levels fall below 15 ng/mL, you may have a 62 percent increased risk of heart attack if you also have high blood pressure, according to researchers from the Framingham Heart Study, reported in the January 2008 issue of "Circulation."

Step 3

Discuss with your doctor the optimal dose of vitamin D for you. The Institute of Medicine raised the recommended daily intake of vitamin D to 600 mg per day up to age 70 and 800 mg per day thereafter in 2010. However, if you have a deficiency or are taking vitamin D to treat or prevent specific conditions such as heart disease, your doctor may suggest a higher dose. Doses of 1,000 to 5,000 IU may be appropriate to prevent heart disease, according to J. Brent Muhlestein, M.D., director of cardiovascular research at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute.

Step 4

Take your vitamin D supplement daily as directed. Regularly taking supplements helps ensure stable blood levels. The amount of vitamin D in standard multivitamins is 400 mg, so you may need to take a separate supplement to obtain the appropriate dosage.

Step 5

Assess your levels after supplementation. People who increased their vitamin D levels to 43 ng/ mL or higher had a decreased risk of heart attack and other heart disease, according to research the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute presented at the American College of Cardiology 59th annual session in 2010. Levels greater than 20 ng/mL are considered adequate for normal bone health, the ODS states.