Score Two More for Vitamin D
A new study from Australian researchers shows that low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a greater risk of heart disease and lupus (a common autoimmune disease).
The researchers studied 50 women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 30 healthy women. In both groups, those with lower vitamin D levels were at increased risk for heart disease. Their risk factors included higher blood pressure, higher blood sugar, higher LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and being overweight. In those with lupus, lower levels of D were linked to more severe disease.
Though contained in a good multivitamin powder at optimal levels, getting sunshine is still your best source of vitamin D. A good rule of thumb? Avoid sunburn, not sunshine!
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. His newest book (June 10, 2024) is You Can Heal From Long COVID. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.
