January 25, 2021
Two new reviews throw cold water on the health promises of dietary supplements, particularly vitamin D and calcium, as well others, with experts concluding their intake should be avoided or discouraged for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
In the first review, published January 25, 2021, in the
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Erin Michos, MD (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD), and colleagues state that supplemental vitamin D for cardiovascular health should be discouraged because there is no solid evidence, including from recent randomized controlled trials, that it provides any benefit for cardiovascular risk reduction.
“The pendulum has now swung, and the sun has set for vitamin D, at least for heart health,” said Michos. While vitamin D doesn’t appear to cause any harm, people would be better off getting their fill through a healthy diet and moderate sunlight exposure, she said.