Vitamin D may cut heart attack risk

Taking vitamin D supplements in later life may cut the risk of heart attacks, according to new research.

A new five-year randomised control trial involving more than 21,000 Australians over 60 suggests the supplements could reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events.

But Professor Rachel Neale, from QIMR Berghofer and leader of the institute’s cancer and aetiology and prevention group, stressed “the results are not definitive”.

Press PLAY below to hear what the study found

“‘It can help with remodelling of vessels, there’s a hormonal feedback loop that influences blood pressure that vitamin D plays a positive role in, there’s a bunch of things that could plausibly explain why vitamin D might have an effect on heart health,” she told Jimmy Bartel and Mark Allen, filling in for Ross and Russ.