Studies have shown that people with high blood vitamin D concentrations have a lower mortality rate than those who do not.
A research team at the University of South Australia analyzed data from 307,600 people in the UK Biobank to investigate the relationship between blood vitamin D concentration and mortality. The researchers analyzed their blood vitamin D levels and genetic information. As a result, it was found that those who lacked vitamin D had a 25% higher mortality rate overall than those who did not. In particular, heart disease mortality was 25% and cancer mortality was 16% higher.
Vitamin D is an ingredient that helps absorb calcium in the body and is good for maintaining bone health. The researchers explain that vitamin D plays an important role in controlling not only bones but also other organ functions. Vitamin D helps normalize cardiovascular function, lowers cholesterol levels and stabilizes blood pressure. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent to slow down the growth of cancer or benign tumors.
Thus, people should get plenty of sun to raise their vitamin D levels. This is because vitamin D is synthesized when sunlight and ultraviolet rays irritate the skin. The researchers added that if you are in an environment where it is difficult to get sunlight, you should take vitamin D supplements or eat foods rich in vitamin D such as fish, meat, mushrooms, and milk. In particular, the older you get, the lower your body's absorption of vitamin D, so you should be careful. Vitamin D is an essential ingredient to continue a healthy life. The older people with underlying diseases, the more important it is to maintain high levels of vitamin D in their blood with sunlight, supplements, and food.
Writer: Yeyoung Jeon
(Picture from Unsplash)
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