A transnational collaboration between researchers from the Zhongyuan Food Laboratory in China and their colleagues in the United States reports that regular vitamin D supplementation is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, with stronger signals among people who begin with low vitamin D stores. The findings arise from a broad synthesis of clinical data and were published by Engineering Magazine. The researchers emphasize that the protective effect tends to surface most clearly in groups prone to deficiency and grows clearer when supplementation is sustained over time.
To evaluate the relationship, the team aggregated results from 99 previously published studies focused on how vitamin D influences cardiometabolic health. In total, more than 17,000 participants received vitamin D across a range of doses and durations. The body of work spans randomized trials and observational analyses, across diverse populations, providing a wide view of how vitamin D status can relate to heart and metabolic risk factors. Engineering Magazine notes.
Among the doses examined, about 3,320 international units per day stood out as the amount associated with reductions in blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, and insulin levels. The strongest signals appeared in non-European populations, people with low baseline vitamin D, those with a normal body mass index, and adults over 50. These patterns persisted across multiple studies, suggesting a differential benefit linked to baseline nutrient status and age.
Longer interventions—three months or longer—and higher doses tailored to individual needs produced more consistent improvements in cardiometabolic outcomes across several populations. In many trials, extending supplementation and optimizing dose correlated with sustained gains in key markers, implying that duration and dosage matter for achieving meaningful health effects.
Researchers acknowledge that the biological mechanisms behind these benefits are not yet fully understood. Potential pathways include effects on vascular function, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity, but additional studies are needed to confirm these hypotheses and to clarify how vitamin D interacts with metabolic regulation.
Earlier researchers highlighted the risks of vitamin D deficiency in children, underscoring a public health focus on maintaining adequate stores of the vitamin. The new synthesis adds to the broader conversation on vitamin D and health, especially in populations where deficiency is common.