Advances in science are helping researchers find new ways to identify diseases sooner. A new breakthrough indicates that free and circulating vitamin D levels in the bloodstream can be a good predictor of future health and disease risk in aging men.
Health risks of vitamin D deficiency
Vit
amin D deficiency is particularly common in older people. In addition, studies increasingly show the importance of vitamin D in protecting against a variety of health conditions associated with aging.
Researchers have linked low blood vitamin D levels to significant age-related health problems, including:
osteoporosi
s increased risk of death from cardiovascular di
sease c
ancer type 2 c
ognitive impairment
While these findings are promising, the study was observational in nature, so researchers were unable to determine the underlying mechanisms. In addition, it was not possible to collect specific information about the causes of death of the participants.
“Most studies focus on the association between total levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and age-related diseases and mortality. As 1.25-dihydroxyvitamin D is the active form of vitamin D in our body, it was possible that it could have been a stronger predictor of disease and mortality. It has also been discussed whether total or free vitamin D levels should be measured,” explains Dr Antonio.
“Our data now suggest that free and total 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are the best measure of future risk to men’s health,” he concludes.
Dr. Antonio and her colleagues are currently completing the statistical analysis and article on their work.
Additional research on vitamin D levels and their relationship to poor health can be a promising area for future studies.
