Another Mendelian randomisation study on 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration has looked at whether blood levels have a causal effect on high blood pressure in pregnant or pre-eclampsia. The researchers looked at records for nearly 17,000 pregnant women. Again, €no strong evidence was found to support a causal effect of vitamin D status on gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia.€13

Finnish researchers have found an association between higher serum vitamin D levels and lower plasma cholesterol levels in primary school children. The study used data for 419 Caucasian children aged 6-8 years, looking at serum levels for 25(OH)D, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and triglycerides.14,15

€Children whose serum 25(OH)D levels exceeded 80nmol/l had lower plasma total and LDLC levels than children whose serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were below 50nmol/l, which is often regarded as a threshold value for vitamin D sufficiency,€ said the researchers.

In addition, €the link between higher serum vitamin D levels and lower plasma cholesterol levels was independent of body adiposity, dietary factors, physical activity, parental education, and daylength prior to blood sampling.€ As such, they said that the evidence further supports the recommendations to follow national vitamin D intake guidelines.