2007/2008 Grants - Cardiovascular Disease

Dr Morton Burt, Staff Specialist

Southern Adelaide Diabetes & Endocrine Services

Project: Could Vitamin D deficiency increase the risk of heart disease?

Vitamin D is a hormone produced by skin in response to sunlight. Many elderly people are deficient in vitamin D as they receive less sunlight exposure and because elderly skin does not make Vitamin D as readily.

The major aims of this study are to determine if vitamin D status is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease; if cardiovascular risk is altered by vitamin D replacement; and if potential mechanisms by which vitamin D could influence cariovascular risk.