Is There Such a Thing As Too Much Vitamin D?

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Filed Under: Heart Health, Food and Nutrition, Nutrients and Additives

Last Reviewed 05/22/2012

Recently, I saw a news broadcast that said too much vitamin D can be bad for your heart by causing atrial fibrillation. They cited research presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association where 132,000 adults in Utah with an average of 52 were followed by 20 months.

What they didn’t reveal is that those who had an increased risk of atrial fibrillation were a tiny subset of those 132,000, who actually had wildly high vitamin D levels above 100 ng/ml. The optimal blood level is 40-60 ng/ml. So as with any nutrient, overdose levels may have a downside.

But for the vast majority of Americans, the real issue is that we’re getting too little vitamin D—not too much! I’ve seen estimates that as much as half of the world’s population is D deficient. Even in sun-drenched Miami, according to one study, fully one-quarter of the population comes up short for this important nutrient.

Why is vitamin D so important? Just for starters, vitamin D is important for immunity, calcium absorption and utilization, insulin secretion, blood pressure, and heart muscle function and structure.

Epidemiological studies involving surveys and health databases have repeatedly linked insufficient blood levels of vitamin D to a higher risk of a number of cardiovascular-related issues, including: arterial stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, higher blood sugar, more fatal strokes, and a higher risk of heart failure and heart attacks.

Keeping these simple tips in mind to help keep you out of the ranks of the D deficient:

Take 2,000 IUs of vitamin D per day.
Primary food sources of vitamin D are fortified milk and fish liver oil.
Get at least 20 minutes per day of mid-day sun.
Avoid the use of sunblocks, which hamper the skin’s production of vitamin D while they also contain many suspect and potentially carcinogenic ingredients. If you feel the need to protect your face, just wear a wide-brimmed hat or a special UV sun mask.

Now it’s your turn: How do you get your vitamin D?

You May Also Be Interested In:

blog comments powered by Disqus

Enjoy What You've Just Read?

Get it delivered to your inbox! Signup for E-News and you'll get great content like you've just read along with other great tips and guides for Dr. Sinatra!

Meet Dr. Sinatra

Dr. Stephen Sinatra is a highly respected and sought-after cardiologist and nutritionist with more than 30 years of clinical practice, research, and study. His integrative approach to heart health focuses on reducing inflammation in the body and maximizing the heart's ability to produce and use energy. More About Dr. Sinatra