In the 11/11/09 Weekly Bulletin from Dr. Andrew Weil: "Add this to the benefits of vitamin D: a study from Finland suggests that the higher your levels of "D," the lower your risks for heart disease and stroke. The Finnish researchers measured vitamin D blood levels in 2,817 men and 3,402 women (average age 49) and followed the participants for 27 years. During that time, 480 men and 453 women died from heart disease or stroke. The researchers found that those with the lowest levels of "D" had a risk of dying from heart attack and stroke that was 25 percent greater than it was among those with the highest vitamin D levels. They also observed that the risk of death from stroke was twice as high among participants with the lowest levels of vitamin D than it was among those with the highest levels. Despite these findings, the investigators noted that more study will be needed to determine whether low levels of vitamin D contribute directly to heart attack or stroke. The study was published in the Oct. 15, 2009, issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology." See article at: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/WBL02166/Worrying-As-a-Risk-for-Asthma.html#1