2023-07-07 05:03:13
Title: Study Debunks Claims of Vitamin D Supplements’ Benefits on Immune System and Cardiovascular Health
Subtitle: Experts Warn Against Unnecessary Vitamin D Supplementation and Overdose
Date: [Current Date]
In recent years, the popularity of vitamin D dietary supplements has soared, even without a doctor’s prescription. These supplements were believed to have various positive effects, including boosting the immune system and offering protection against atherosclerosis. However, recent studies are challenging these claims and cautioning against the unnecessary use and overdose of vitamin D preparations.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, vitamin D was hailed as a potential remedy to prevent severe illnesses. Yet, after evaluating numerous scientific studies, experts from the German Society for Nutritional Science concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support vitamin D supplementation as a means of preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection or reducing the severity of Covid-19 disease.
Furthermore, the German experts issued a warning against prolonged overdosing on vitamin D supplements. Excessive intake can lead to undesirable side effects such as kidney stones, kidney calcification, and cardiovascular disorders. The Austrian Society for Bones and Mineral Metabolism also stated that administering vitamin D to all healthy individuals, irrespective of age, cannot be advocated.
A recently published placebo-controlled study featured in the British Medical Journal examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation on cardiovascular health. The study, conducted between 2014 and 2020, involved 21,316 participants aged 60 to 84 years. Half of the participants received monthly doses of 60,000 international units of vitamin D3, while the other half consumed placebo tablets.
The primary research objective was to determine the impact of vitamin D intake on severe cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, bypass surgeries, and cardiac catheter interventions. The study analyzed data from 21,302 individuals and found that there was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of these events between the group that received vitamin D and the placebo group. Only the frequency of heart attacks showed a 19% decrease in the vitamin D group, but this was not the primary focus of the investigation.
The Deutsches Ärzteblatt highlighted a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2019, which included data from over 83,000 subjects in vitamin D studies. This analysis found no significant effect of vitamin D on the frequency of strokes, heart attacks, and total cardiovascular deaths. A similar conclusion was drawn in a separate study in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2019, involving 25,871 subjects over a six-year period.
The findings of these studies, including the involvement of renowned medical journals and reputable institutions, cast doubt on the alleged benefits of vitamin D supplementation for the immune system and cardiovascular health.
Experts are now urging caution when it comes to vitamin D supplementation, stressing the importance of obtaining nutrients from a balanced diet and sunlight exposure. It is essential to consult with healthcare professionals before starting any form of nutritional supplementation.]
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