Taking vitamin D supplements linked to better chance of avoiding heart attacks

with over 80 percent reporting taking at least 80 percent of their tablets. Over the course of the trial, 1,336 participants experienced a major cardiovascular event (6.6% in the placebo group, 6% in the vitamin D group). Meanwhile, rate of major cardiovascular events was nine percent lower in the vitamin D cohort compared to the placebo group (equivalent to 5.8 fewer events per 1,000 people).

Heart attack (-19%) and coronary revascularization (-11%) rates were lower in the vitamin D group, but the team did not note any differences in the rate of stroke between the two cohorts. Notably, there was some indication of a stronger effect on those using statins or other cardiovascular drugs at the beginning of the trial. However, researchers clarify those findings were not statistically significant.