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This article may be reprinted free of charge provided 1) that there is clear attribution to the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, and 2) that both the OMNS free subscription link http://orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html and also the OMNS archive link http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/index.shtml are included. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Health: Latest Evidence from an International Expert Panelby Richard Z. Cheng, M.D., Ph.D.If it seems like many of the same names keep appearing in the Vitamin D conversation-it's not a coincidence. This latest publication [1] on Vitamin D and cardiovascular health is authored by a team of long-time advocates and researchers, most of whom also serve as board members of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service (OMNS). Together, we've spent years reviewing the science, challenging outdated guidelines, and pushing for patient-centered, health-oriented, evidence-based medicine. In this paper, I joined esteemed colleagues:
...to present a global narrative review of the evidence connecting vitamin D sufficiency to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction. This work builds upon our earlier publication: Grant WB, Wimalawansa SJ, Pludowski P, Cheng RZ. Vitamin D: Evidence-Based Health Benefits and Recommendations for Population Guidelines. Nutrients. 2025 Jan 14;17(2):277. PMID: 39861407; PMCID: PMC11767646 That foundational review offered a sweeping summary of vitamin D's role across a wide range of health conditions. Now, we focus the lens specifically on heart health-the world's leading cause of death. Key Observational EvidenceAcross numerous large-scale population studies, one finding consistently emerges: low vitamin D levels mean higher cardiovascular risk.
How Vitamin D Protects the Cardiovascular SystemVitamin D supports cardiovascular health through multiple physiological mechanisms:
Clinical Trials: A Clearer Picture EmergingWhile earlier randomized controlled trials (RCTs) often found no benefit, this was largely due to poor design:
Recent, better-designed trials are finally showing what many of us have seen clinically for years.
Hill's Criteria for Causality: The Case is StrongThe body of evidence now satisfies several of Hill's criteria for causality, including:
Clinical Perspective: It's Time to Rethink the DosingOur paper recommends maintaining serum 25(OH)D levels above 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) and ideally in the 75-100 nmol/L (30-40 ng/mL) range. But in my view-and supported by decades of clinical practice, real-world outcomes, and a deeper reading of the scientific literature-even these targets remain too conservative. This conservatism reflects the publishing environment of peer-reviewed journals, which still tend to favor cautious, incremental recommendations, even in the face of compelling evidence and an excellent safety profile. In clinical reality, higher serum levels-typically 50-100 ng/mL (125-250 nmol/L)-are both safe and more effective, particularly for individuals with chronic disease, autoimmune conditions, or limited sun exposure. Achieving and maintaining this optimal range usually requires 5,000 IU/day or more of vitamin D3-a dose well within established safety limits and supported by decades of orthomolecular and functional medicine experience. For vitamins and micronutrients in general, I personally advocate for maintaining levels at the higher end of the safe physiological range-well below known toxicity thresholds, but above the often overly conservative "normal" reference ranges. This view is grounded in Bruce Ames' triage theory, which suggests that during times of limited micronutrient availability, the body prioritizes short-term survival over long-term health maintenance-leading to chronic disease risk even at so-called "normal" levels. Combined with extensive safety data and my own clinical experience, this perspective further supports aiming for optimal, not merely adequate nutrient status. Vitamin D today is no longer just about preventing rickets. It is a cornerstone of metabolic, immune, neurological, and cardiovascular health. The science has advanced, and so should our guidelines. ✅ Bottom LineThis state-of-the-art review, authored by an international team of scientists and clinicians, reinforces what OMNS and many in the integrative medical community have long emphasized: vitamin D is essential for cardiovascular health, and existing guidelines are overdue for evidence-based revision. It's time to embrace the data, reject outdated and overly cautious limits, and empower patients with safe, effective, and scientifically grounded recommendations. Vitamin D sufficiency is not optional-it's foundational. But beyond the scientific findings, this also reveals a broader challenge: the medical publishing system itself requires reform. Too often, clinically relevant and urgently needed perspectives are sidelined in favor of editorial orthodoxy and institutional inertia. As physicians and scientists, we must be willing to speak out-not merely yield to publishing pressure or bureaucratic inertia. Medical progress depends not on compliance, but on courage-on those who are willing to challenge the status quo for the sake of truth, clinical integrity, and public health. About the AuthorRichard Z. Cheng, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Cheng is a U.S.-trained, board-certified anti-aging and cancer specialist with active practices in the United States and China. He specializes in integrative and orthomolecular medicine, with expertise in low-carbohydrate nutrition, high-dose vitamin therapy, anti-aging, and functional medicine. He also serves as a global health educator, consultant, and leading advocate for root-cause, nutrition-based medical reform. 🧬 Read Dr. Cheng's Q&A and additional writings at: https://rzchengmd.substack.com References:1. Grant, W.B.; Boucher, B.J.; Cheng, R.Z.; Pludowski, P.; Wimalawansa, S.J. Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Review of Risk Reduction Evidence. Nutrients 2025, 17, 2102. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132102 2. Grant, W.B. (2018). Vitamin D Acceptance Delayed by Big Pharma Following the Disinformation Playbook. GrassrootsHealth. Available at: https://www.grassrootshealth.net/vitamin-d-acceptance-delayed-big-pharma-following-disinformation-playbook Orthomolecular MedicineOrthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org Find a DoctorTo locate an orthomolecular physician near you: http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v06n09.shtml The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource. Editorial Review Board:
Jennifer L. Aliano, M.S., L.Ac., C.C.N. (USA)
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