Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Alter Cardiovascular Risk

Scientific uncertainty persists about the relationship between vitamin D levels and the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A U.S. survey in 2012 found increasing use, with about 19% of respondents reported taking vitamin D, excluding multivitamins. To learn more, investigators performed a meta-analysis of all randomized, controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation for cardiovascular prevention.

The authors identified 21 trials with 83,291 participants (mean age, 65). The various trials used different supplements, including cholecalciferol and vitamin D analogues. CVD was a primary outcome in only four studies.

In follow-ups ranging from 1 to 12 years, vitamin D supplementation showed no significant effect on…