At the recent American Heart Association’s annual conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, a study was presented showing that low levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased risk for high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome in teenagers.  Metabolic syndrome is a combination of risk factors including high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of HDL cholesterol, elevated total cholesterol, high fasting blood glucose levels, and increased waist circumference.

Jared Reis, Ph.D the study’s lead author said in an interview "We showed strong associations between low levels of vitamin D and higher risk of high blood pressure, hyperglycemia and metabolic syndrome among adolescents, confirming the results of studies among adults"

3577 adolescents from ages 12 to 19 were evaluated in the study. After adjusting for body mass index, age, race, sex, socioeconomic status, and physical activities the scientists found that adolescents with the lowest level of vitamin D were

• 2.36 times more likely to have high blood pressure.

• 2.54 times more likely to have high blood sugar; and

• 3.99 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome.
  

The highest level of vitamin D was found in white teenagers with an average level of 28 ng/ml.  In Mexican-Americans the average was 21.5 ng/ml and in blacks the average was 15.5 ng/ml

It is interesting to note that all the averages of the adolescents were below what we now consider to be the lowest acceptable level of vitamin D for health which is 30 ng.ml.

This study like so many of the others was retrospective. The authors expect that they will do prospective clinical trials with vitamin D supplementation, to evaluate the risk for all the above heart disease risk factors.  We will only hope that they will use at least 1000 but preferably 2000 IU of vitamin D for the study.  This level of vitamin D would be the most likely to give them significant results.

Robert H. Eckel, M.D., the past president of the American Heart Association was quoted as saying about this study. “These data on serum vitamin D levels in young people raise some concern about their food choices and even the amount of time they spend in the sunshine."  Readers of my book will know that food is not a great source of vitamin D.  We all need to spend some time in the sun and certainly, at least in the winter to be taking vitamin D supplements.

Reference from AHA