Reuters Health is reporting a study showing that people with low vitamin D levels may face an increased risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD). In participants with the highest vitamin D levels, only 3.7 percent had PAD. Among those with the lowest levels, 8.1 percent had PAD.

In other words, those with the lowest vitamin D levels were 2.18 times more likely to have PAD than were participants in the highest vitamin D levels after adjustment for age, gender, and race.
The researchers caution “the evidence is not quite there yet to suggest patients with PAD would benefit from vitamin D supplementation.”
My Take? Given the many potential benefits of taking a vitamin D supplement (stronger bones, stronger muscles, reduced rates of some cancers), and the very few drawbacks, I’m recommending vitamin D and calcium supplements to my patients.