The two main forms of are vitamin D are ergocalciferol, or vitamin D-2, and cholecalciferol, or vitamin D-3. Both types of vitamin D can found in foods such as dairy products, mushrooms, salmon and eggs. Although adequate vitamin D levels provide a host of benefits, low vitamin D levels might increase the risk for heart disease.
Potency
Vitamin D-3 might be more effective than vitamin D-2 for improving vitamin D levels, which can have a significant impact on heart disease risk. Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina assigned healthy participants 50,000 international units of either vitamin D-2 or vitamin D-3 and monitored vitamin D blood levels for 28 days. Scientists reported in the November 2004 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism" that those taking vitamin D-3 experienced increases in vitamin D levels after 14 days compared to baseline, whereas those taking vitamin D-2 experienced no increases in vitamin D levels after 14 days compared to baseline.
Heart Disease Risk
Low blood levels of vitamin D might increase heart disease risk, according to a study at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. It examined the relationship between vitamin D status and heart disease risk in both men and women. Scientists reported in the July 2009 issue of "Atherosclerosis" that participants with heart disease were more likely to be vitamin D deficient than those without heart disease.
Hypertension
High blood pressure can damage healthy arteries and decrease blood flow to the heart, thereby increasing the risk for heart disease. Scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School investigated the relationship between vitamin D levels and hypertension risk. They found that men and women with hypertension were more likely to have low vitamin D levels compared to those without hypertension, according to research published in the May 2007 issue of "Hypertension."
Interactions
Vitamin D supplements may interact with certain medications, including calcium channel blockers, atorvastatin, digoxin and corticosteroids, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Therefore, consult your physician before taking vitamin D supplements.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism"; Vitamin D2 Is Much Less Effective than Vitamin D3 in Humans; L. A.G. Armas et al.; November 2004
- "Atherosclerosis"; 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Deficiency is Independently Associated with Cardiovascular Disease in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; J. Kendrick et al.; July 2009
- "Hypertension"; Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Risk of Incident Hypertension; J.P. Forman et al.; May 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin D; 2011
