Mortality is a health concern we all share. The main issue with it, is how can we prevent an earlier-than-needed mortality? This goal is perhaps the overall driving force of all Doctors Health Press subscribers. Older adults, pay close attention, because some nutrients just got the green light for keeping you alive longer.
The latest health breakthrough suggests that pairing vitamin D with calcium could drop the rate of mortality in older adults. Thus, a simple supplement could be a means of living longer.
Vitamin D has had enormous play in medical research for the past 10 years. For instance, it is well-known that vitamin D and calcium could reduce the risk of bone fractures. This study assessed mortality with those who took vitamin D alone or the “sunshine vitamin” with calcium. The beneficial finding was outside the realm of fractures — suggesting this combination could protect us from death in other ways.
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It is the largest study ever performed with these two nutrients on mortality. The results showed reduced mortality in older adults taking vitamin-D supplements in combination with calcium. But the same results were not true for vitamin D alone.
In this study, researchers used pooled data from eight randomized controlled trials with more than 1,000 participants each. The patient data set comprised nearly 90% women, with an average age of 70 years. During the three-year study, death was reduced by nine percent in those treated with vitamin D with calcium.
Elsewhere, studies have suggested that calcium itself can have adverse effects on cardiovascular health. While the new study does not rule out such effects, it did find that calcium-vitamin D in older adults is not harmful to survival. In fact, it found the precise opposite.
Vitamin D has been the center of easily the most focused medical analysis ever in alternative medicine. We have learned so much about this nutrient, its vital nature in the body and its seemingly endless abilities to shield the body from disease. Most experts now agree that every adult should take a vitamin D supplement of 1,000 international units (IU) a day if they are not getting enough sunshine And even if they are.
Vitamin D in many ways is a partner with calcium in producing benefits. It amplifies calcium’s ability to strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis and dangerous fractures. One look at any calcium supplement bottle will tell you: there is vitamin D, and often there is magnesium as well. It’s no health secret at this point: ignoring vitamin D can be perilous to one’s health.