Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland reported that consuming vitamin D in doses higher than current recommendations over a span of five years was linked to a reduced risk of atrial fibrillation among older adults. The findings appeared in the American Heart Journal.
The five-year trial included 2,495 participants: men aged 60 and older and women aged 65 and older. One group received a placebo, a second group took 40 micrograms (1600 IU) of vitamin D3 daily, and a third group received 80 micrograms (3200 IU) of vitamin D3 daily. Finnish medical guidelines presently advise that elderly individuals should not exceed 20 micrograms (800 IU) per day.
At baseline, participants did not have diagnosed cardiovascular disease or cancer, and they completed detailed questionnaires about lifestyle and dietary habits.
Over the course of the study, 190 participants developed atrial fibrillation: 76 in the placebo group, 59 in the 40 mcg group, and 55 in the 80 mcg group. Relative to placebo, the risk of developing atrial fibrillation was reduced by 27 percent in the 40 mcg group and by 32 percent in the 80 mcg group. The research did not find a link between vitamin D3 intake and the incidence of other cardiovascular diseases or cancer.
One year after the study began, the average blood concentration of vitamin D3 was 100 nmol/L in the 40 mcg group and 120 nmol/L in the 80 mcg group. The placebo group did not show significant changes in vitamin D levels.
Earlier investigations looking at the heart with vitamin D3 doses of 10 mcg (400 IU) or 50 mcg (2000 IU) daily reported no reduction in arrhythmia risk. Given these mixed findings, experts say more research is necessary before any shift in clinical guidance occurs. (Citation: American Heart Journal.)
Atrial fibrillation stands as the most common form of arrhythmia, substantially elevating the risk of stroke, heart failure, and death. Prior studies suggest vitamin D may influence the heart’s auricular structure and electrical activity, fueling speculation that adequate vitamin D could help prevent atrial fibrillation.
Additional research has linked higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids with a reduced risk of atrial fibrillation in older men, offering another potential dietary factor that may influence heart rhythm.
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