Last updated 17 February 2010
A study has found that middle-aged people with high levels of vitamin D are much less likely to develop heart disease or diabetes than those with low levels.Scientists at Warwick Medical School looked at 28 studies involving 99,745 people and calculated that middle-aged and older people with high levels of the vitamin were 43 per cent less likely to develop heart disease or diabetes.
People can boost their levels of vitamin D by spending a small amount of time in the sun on a regular basis, as it is produced when the skin comes into contact with UV rays.
A small number of foods, including oily fish, are also rich sources of the vitamin, while supplements may also be beneficial.
Dr Oscar Franco, who led the review alongside Johanna Parker, commented: 'Targeting vitamin D deficiency in adult populations could potentially slow the current epidemics of cardiometabolic disorders.'
Fotini Rozakeas, cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said that the study suggests an association between a higher level of vitamin D and a lower risk of heart and circulatory disease.
However, the expert noted that factors such as dietary habits, supplementation and exposure to sunlight were not examined and claimed: 'More research is needed to explain this relationship.
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