This paper was published in Vascular health and risk management 2011;7:671-5
Study title and authors:
Vitamin D status and peripheral arterial disease: evidence so far.
Chua G, Chan Y, Cheng S.
Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22140318
This paper reviewed the literature on the association of vitamin D and peripheral arterial disease.
The review found:
(a) People with lower vitamin D levels are more likely to develop peripheral arterial disease.
(b) Higher amputation rates are observed among patients with peripheral arterial disease and lower vitamin D levels.
(c) Vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events.
This study shows that vitamin D deficiency could be an independent risk factor for the development of peripheral arterial disease.
By far the richest source of dietary vitamin D is cod liver oil. The second richest source of vitamin D is lard. Other foods containing vitamin D include: Butter, egg yolk, liver, organ meats and seafood. Vitamin D is virtually absent from all plant food.
