Heart and Bone Damage from Low Vitamin D Tied to Declines in Sex Hormones

Vitamin D is a known essential to keeping our bodies healthy. Sources of vitamin D can come from fortified foods and sunlight. Vitamin D is prescribed to treat osteoporosis; however, recent studies suggest it could also be useful in preventing heart disease. Such studies at Johns Hopkins found that low levels of vitamin D (considered 20 nanograms per milliliter or lower) and estrogen are independent risk factors for hardened and narrowed arteries as well as weakened bones. The relationship between vitamin D, estrogen, and testosterone have been known to influence arterial and bone health, however exactly HOW they work to do this is a mystery to many scientists.


An example of this phenomenon is long term effects of estrogen therapy in women failed to show fewer heart disease deaths, but less bone fractures. The Johns Hopkins study data was provided when they analyzed blood samples from a group of men participating in a study on cancer. This was part of an ongoing national health survey involving both men and women and was created to compare the risk of diseases between those with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D to those with higher amounts. Hormone levels in men were measured when the sex hormones were either circulating freely or when they were attached to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin). No correlation has been made between low levels of vitamin D and low levels of hormones, however when ratios of estrogen to SHGB were compared, rates of osteoporosis were higher when the two we depressed.

This shows how important vitamin D is to good bone health, and that osteoporosis and heart disease (for men) relies heavily on vitamin D and sex hormones (estrogen particularly). Surveys showed that 41 percent of men and 53 percent of women are nutrient deficient with vitamin D. Current clinical trials are ongoing for this information in women.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091115123715.htm