An estimate of the global reduction in mortality rates through doubling vitamin D levels

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011 Sep;65(9):1016-26. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.68. Epub 2011 Jul 6.

Abstract

Background/objectives: The goal of this work is to estimate the reduction in mortality rates for six geopolitical regions of the world under the assumption that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels increase from 54 to 110 nmol/l.

Subjects/methods: This study is based on interpretation of the journal literature relating to the effects of solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) and vitamin D in reducing the risk of disease and estimates of the serum 25(OH)D level-disease risk relations for cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and respiratory infections. The vitamin D-sensitive diseases that account for more than half of global mortality rates are CVD, cancer, respiratory infections, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus. Additional vitamin D-sensitive diseases and conditions that account for 2 to 3% of global mortality rates are Alzheimer's disease, falls, meningitis, Parkinson's disease, maternal sepsis, maternal hypertension (pre-eclampsia) and multiple sclerosis. Increasing serum 25(OH)D levels from 54 to 110 nmol/l would reduce the vitamin D-sensitive disease mortality rate by an estimated 20%.

Results: The reduction in all-cause mortality rates range from 7.6% for African females to 17.3% for European females. Reductions for males average 0.6% lower than for females. The estimated increase in life expectancy is 2 years for all six regions.

Conclusions: Increasing serum 25(OH)D levels is the most cost-effective way to reduce global mortality rates, as the cost of vitamin D is very low and there are few adverse effects from oral intake and/or frequent moderate UVB irradiance with sufficient body surface area exposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / mortality
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / prevention & control
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mortality*
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Pre-Eclampsia / mortality
  • Pre-Eclampsia / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / mortality
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / prevention & control
  • Risk Factors
  • Sunlight
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamins / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamins / blood

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D