Vitamin D Slashes Overall Mortality by Up to 8 Percent

Vitamin D supplementation shows a significant decline in mortality says study.

As always, one study is not definitive, however this one is tantalizing and worthwhile, as vitamin D supplementation is easy (one pill a day; beware of overdose). The study in question is a "meta-analysis" where many studies are analyzed; the source is from Lyons France. The results showed an overall 7 % decrease in mortality. The exact reason was not clear. Also, two other facts, meta-analysis are not as statistically powerful as well designed double blind studies, where one group gets the drug or chemical and the other does not. And rarely vitamin d is associated with toxicity, especially increased calcium which can lead to heart arrhythmias. And more than 2000 iu per day can damage kidneys and the liver. So before starting a regimen of vitamin d, be sure to discuss it with your health care provider.

Why would increased vitamin d lead to decreased overall mortality? One reason could be a decrease in osteoporosis. Falls in older people are a common cause of morbidity (disability) and mortality and osteoporosis aggravates hip and spinal fractures. Actually, falls in older women with osteoporosis are a major cause of morbidity (illness) and (mortality) death. So anything that helps prevent osteoporosis, such as calcium and vitamin d are beneficial to the older population at risk for osteoporosis. There are drugs for osteoporosis but vitamin d and calcium are less intrusive and easier on the patient.
Sp vitamin d helps prevent osteoporosis. So if you are a thin boned women it is especially important to consider adding vitamin D and calcium to your life after consulting your health care provider. And every woman (and select populations of men) should have a bone density test to screen for osteoporosis. This is a simple a rather accurate procedure.

Another more intriguing mechanism by which vitamin D may decrease mortality is that it is protective for cancers, particularly breast, colon, lung, pancreas and prostate among others. The exact mechanisms are still to be discovered but the data from this and other studies is exciting. In the not too distant future we may all be taking carefully titrated doses of vitamin d as adjunctive preventive therapy for cancer. One mechanism by which is may work is that vitamin d goes to the nucleus of the cell and cancer is a disease of the nucleus - specifically the genes in the nucleus. Another mechanism proposed is that vitamin d modulates the immune system and may help it eradicate cancer in the early stages. What ever the reason, adequate intake of vitamin d, after discussion with your health care provider, sounds like a very wise move, no matter what you age.