According to a recent study out of UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, supplementing with vitamin D can improve heart health in children. To conduct the study, researchers monitored 225 children ages 10 to 18 who were deficient in vitamin D, but otherwise healthy. The children were divided into three groups, and each group was given a different amount of vitamin D. The first group took 600 IU daily, which is the current recommended daily dietary allowance. The second group took 1,000 IU each day, and the third group took 2,000 IU each day. The participants were monitored for six months.
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After six months, the researchers found that the children who were taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D each day had improved insulin sensitivity and a reduced fasting blood glucose level. The children who were taking 1,000 IU of vitamin D each day also had lower blood pressure.
Lead study author Kumaravel Rajakumar explained, “Current recommendations for taking vitamin D are pegged to optimal bone health, but we know vitamin D is involved in more than building healthy bones. It can turn on and off genes that direct our cells to regulate blood glucose levels, and immune and vascular function.”
Improved insulin sensitivity, reduced fasting blood glucose and lower blood pressure levels thanks to vitamin D supplementation can help reduce the risk of diabetes and also improve heart health. In a previous study, researchers found that children born with low levels of vitamin D had about a 60% higher risk of elevated systolic blood pressure from ages 6 to 18, and children who experienced persistently low levels throughout their childhood were at double the risk of elevated systolic blood pressure between ages 3 and 18. Research has also shown that high doses of vitamin D supplementation can help children gain weight and develop muscle and bone health, along with a healthy immune system.