Get some sun: Risk of Dying Linked to Low Vitamin D

The patients were followed for about eight years. During that time, 737 of them died, including 463 from cardiovascular problems.

Researchers found that people with the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood had the highest chances of dying. Although chances of dying due to heart disease rose with decreasing levels of vitamin D, dying from other causes was more likely, too. Patients with little coronary artery disease were still much more likely to die during follow-up if they had low vitamin D levels.

It's not yet known whether low levels of vitamin D can trigger death from heart disease. Researchers say intervention trials using vitamin D could help establish if there is a casual relationship. ...

In an article accompanying the research, the researchers report that on average both older and younger people around the world may not be getting enough vitamin D. They speculate that it may be due to air pollution, a lack of outdoor activities, and increased urbanization, with more people staying and working indoors.

Vitamin D is naturally produced by your body when it is exposed to the sun, although sunscreens interfere with this process. As we age, vitamin D production slows down as well. ...

Studies have shown that low levels of vitamin D are related to, among other things, heart disease, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. In this study, researchers speculated that the vitamin may have anti-inflammatory effects that protect heart health.

The next part caught my attention because I have an auto-immune inflammatory reaction in my eyes which causes them to dry out if I don't take flaxseed oil daily. Perhaps I need more Vitamin D too if it is anti-inflammatory.

They also believe it may affect how plaque is produced and builds up in the artery walls. The vitamin's anti-inflammatory properties may also be protective against a host of other diseases, including immune disorders and cancer. Adequate levels of vitamin D are also essential for bone health, and low levels are associated with osteoporosis and fractures. - webmd

I got some sun this weekend and it always feels great. The trick seems to be getting the right amount. Will vitamin supplements help the same as time in the sun?