Vitamin D, Sunlight Deficiencies Sharply Up Stroke Risk, Study Finds
Bloggers beware- a new study has indicated that low levels of Vitamin D and the sunlight that imparts it could negatively impact your risk of stroke.
Interestingly, researchers seemed to hit a “sweet spot” of sun exposure in the more than 16,000 respondents included in the study. While climates with lower sun exposure were linked with a 56% higher risk of stroke, individuals exposed to lots of sun also experienced an increased risk. The findings were presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference and were part of the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) study. All participants were over the age of 45, and the average time for study follow-up was about five years.
If anything, the study seems to show that adages about all things in moderation ring true when it comes to sun- a lack of sun is certainly not great for humans, but a lot of unprotected sun exposure can lead to skin cancer as well as premature aging. Of the link between Vitamin D levels and stroke risk, one researcher said:
“There is some evidence that vitamin D is cardioprotective, and it has some role in blood pressure and inflammation. So it makes sense to ask whether vitamin D has protective properties for the brain.”
In respect to Vitamin D, researchers also referred to “unmeasured” possible mitigating factors, such as improved diets in those with more favorable levels of the vitamin.
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About the Author
Kim LaCapria Kim LaCapria is a writer and editor based in New York. A longtime information junkie, she began blogging full-time at the Inquisitr in 2009. Prior to that, she worked as a marketing assistant in the cosmetics and skincare industry. In addition to her writing for fortytwotimes, she also writes for Medacity and The Inquisitr. Kim is also a contributor for SocialNewsDaily, Indyposted, and TotallyMoney. In the past, she contributed to Lipstick and Luxury and managed social media accounts and blogs for several small and mid-sized businesses.
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