Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with depression, Alzheimer’s disease, MS, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity. New research has found that low levels of vitamin D have also been linked to an increased risk of death in older adults.

According to a study from European and American researchers that appeared in the journal Clinical Endocrinology, vitamin D deficiency raised the risk of death from all causes, with the risk of death from cardiovascular causes even more pronounced.

The researchers analyzed data from 614 men and women with an average age of 69.8. Blood levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D were measured at the debut of the study. At the end of the study, approximately six years later, 51 of the study participants had died, 20 of whom had died of cardiovascular disease.

The scientists found that the people with the lowest levels of vitamin D were at a 124 percent increased risk for death from all causes and an incredible 378 percent increase for death from cardiovascular causes.

This new study reinforces that Vitamin D is critical to overall health as well as brain health. It helps keep bones healthy, improves the immune system, reduces inflammation, and may protect cognitive function.

Typically, we get vitamin D from the sun, but because we are wearing more sunscreen and spending more time in front of our computers, our levels are falling and our health is at greater risk.   And, it is an EASY FIX

Too many of us aren’t getting enough vitamin D “¦ including me! When I had my levels tested, they were very low”¦ and I live in sunny Southern California. I found that I needed to take a daily vitamin D supplement of 5,000 IUs to get my levels in the optimal range.

I test the vitamin D levels of all of my patients, and I urge you to test your levels, too. If you want to check your levels, ask your doctor to do a test called 25-hydroxy vitamin D. If your levels are low, take a vitamin D supplement.

The Amen Clinics makes a variety of high-quality vitamin D supplements, including a vitamin D liquid supplying 10,000 IUs of natural vitamin D, a 1,000 IU supplement, and a 2,000 IU supplement.