Low levels of vitamin D are known to nearly double the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes, and researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis now think they know why, according to a study in the August 25 issue of Circulation.
They have found that diabetics deficient in vitamin D can't process cholesterol normally, so it builds up in their blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. The new research has identified a mechanism linking low vitamin D levels to heart disease risk and may lead to ways to fix the problem, simply by increasing levels of vitamin D.
Sources:
Thaindian News: Why Does Low Vitamin D Raise Cardiac Risks In Diabetics?
Red Orbit: Low Vitamin D Raises Diabetic Heart Risk
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