Sunlight and Vitamin D

SunlightA new study has linked a lack of sunshine, the body's most natural source of vitamin D, to the prevalence of cardiovascular disease.

Factors that affect sunlight, and therefore vitamin D production, are tied to a patient's cardiovascular risks. In other words, the more sunlight you get, the better your cardiovascular health will be. These factors can include time of year, altitude, and geographical location.

There are a number of physiological mechanisms triggered by vitamin D production through sunlight exposure that act to fight heart disease, according to the study:

* An increase in the body's natural anti-inflammatory cytokines.
* The suppression of vascular calcification.
* The inhibition of vascular smooth muscle growth.


British Journal of Nutrition October 2005; 94(4): 483-492