In the most recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and their colleagues reported that low levels of vitamin D seem to be linked to an increased risk of death.

In a large study involving over 13,000 people aged 20 or older who were followed for an average of eight years, the researchers found that those with the lowest vitamin-D levels had a 26% higher risk of death from all causes. Low levels of vitamin D were also associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, although this finding was not statistically significant. The researchers did not find an association between low vitamin-D levels and cancer death.

The researchers also found that older people, women, minorities, diabetics, current smokers, and those with a higher body-mass index (BMI) were more likely to have vitamin-D deficiency. Interestingly, this study also showed that very high levels of vitamin D may not be good for women.

Maintaining a health vitamin-D level is not difficult - to make sure you get enough vitamin D, the researchers recommend spending just 10 to 15 minutes a day in the sun and eating oily fish or vitamin-D fortified foods, such as milk.