Tailored vitamin D approach reduces risk of recurrent heart attack

ISTANBUL

A tailored vitamin D treatment for patients who have suffered a heart attack significantly reduces their risk of having another, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 on Sunday.

The study focused on adults with heart disease who had previously experienced a heart attack, aiming to determine whether achieving optimal vitamin D blood levels could help prevent future heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, hospitalizations, or deaths.

Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving standard care and the other receiving individualized vitamin D supplements.

Those in the treatment group had their vitamin D doses adjusted every three months until their blood levels exceeded 40 nanograms per milliliter — a level many experts consider necessary for optimal health.

Researchers reported that participants who received personalized vitamin D dosing over nearly four years had a 52% lower risk of heart attack compared to those receiving standard care.

“We encourage people with heart disease to discuss vitamin D blood testing and targeted dosing with their health care professionals to meet their individual needs,” said the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Heidi May.

While researchers concluded that tailored vitamin D doses did not significantly reduce the primary outcome of death, heart failure hospitalization, or stroke, the study showed that vitamin D supplementation appeared beneficial in preventing recurrent heart attacks.