High-dose vitamin D reduces risk of atrial fibrillation, study shows
- Article
- 2023-07-17
A recent study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland shows that taking a high dose of vitamin D for five years lowers the risk of atrial fibrillation in older men and women.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder and is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure and death. The study shows that vitamin D has an effect on the structure of the atrium and on impulse conduction, which may help prevent atrial fibrillation.
The study included 2,495 participants, men age 60 or older and women age 65 or older. The participants were randomly divided into three groups: a placebo group and two groups that received vitamin D3 supplements, namely 40 or 80 mcg. All participants were also allowed to continue taking their personal vitamin D supplement, with a maximum of 20 mcg per day. At the start of the study, the participants had no cardiovascular disease and they completed extensive questionnaires about their lifestyle, diet and risk factors. About 20% of the participants underwent detailed examinations and blood samples were taken.
The risk of atrial fibrillation was 27% lower in the group taking 40 mcg of vitamin D and 32% lower in the group taking 80 mcg compared to the placebo group. In the subgroup that underwent additional testing, the mean serum vitamin D (calcidiol) level at the start of the study was 75 nmol/L. After one year, the average vitamin D level had risen to 100 nmol/l in the group taking 40 mcg and to 120 nmol/l in the group taking 80 mcg. No significant change in calcidiol concentration was observed in the placebo group.
One of the limitations of the study is that the study population consisted exclusively of older white men and women from Finland, so the results may not be generalizable to other age groups and ethnicities. Despite this, the FIND trial is the first randomized controlled trial to show that vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation in generally healthy men and women.
Reference:
Virtanen J K, Hantunen S, Lamberg-Allardt C, et al. The effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on atrial fibrillation in generally healthy men and women–the Finnish Vitamin D Trial. American Heart Journal, 2023.
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