The vitamin and mineral that improve cholesterol

Your HDL (good) cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels reflect how well your heart health is holding up. According to a study of dietary supplements, taking a particular vitamin and mineral can benefit these totals and support your cardiovascular system.

The research, part of a project called the Women’s Health Initiative, shows that postmenopausal women taking vitamin D and calcium have more of the desirable HDL cholesterol and less of the undesirable LDL cholesterol. The women in the study took 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D3.

Supplement takers enjoyed low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels that were about 5 points lower than women who didn’t take the vitamin and mineral. The scientists also found that the women taking vitamin D3 (who had higher levels of vitamin D in their blood) had more beneficial HDL and fewer triglycerides (blood fats that are often associated with heart problems).

“The results of this study should inspire even more women to be conscientious about their calcium and vitamin D intake — a simple and safe way to improve health. One action can lead to multiple benefits!” says Margery Gass, M.D., executive director of The North American Menopause Society.

Carl Lowe

By Carl Lowe

has written about health, fitness and nutrition for a wide range of publications including Prevention Magazine, Self Magazine and Time-Life Books. The author of more than a dozen books, he has been gluten-free since 2007.

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