Hudson College Researchers Find Vitamin D Intervention Could Curb Heart Disease Risk in American Indian Youth

Researchers at the OU Hudson College of Public Health have shed new light on the role of vitamin D in cardiovascular health among American Indian adolescents. In a study published this month in Preventing Chronic Disease, Drs. Elisa Lee, Jennifer Peck, Jessica Reese, and Ying Zhang—of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology and the Center for American Indian Health Research—report the first comprehensive assessment of vitamin D levels and heart‐health risk factors in this population as part of the long‐running Strong Heart Family Study.

Building on Established Knowledge
In non‑Native U.S. populations, low vitamin D status has long been linked to higher rates of obesity—a major driver of cardiovascular disease—and is recognized as one of the few nutritional factors that can be modified through diet, fortification, and supplementation.

New Findings from American Indian Adolescents
This report represents the first quantification of vitamin D deficiency prevalence among American Indian adolescents, revealing that deficiency is both widespread and clinically significant. The researchers followed participants for more than a decade after their initial examination and found that those with vitamin D deficiency at baseline were significantly more likely to develop metabolic syndrome—and, thirteen years later, to receive a diabetes diagnosis—than their peers with sufficient vitamin D levels.

Implications for Public Health Practice
These results highlight vitamin D deficiency as a modifiable risk factor that could be addressed well before chronic disease onset. Early nutritional screening, culturally tailored dietary guidance, community‑driven supplementation programs, and safe sun‑exposure practices offer a clear pathway to reducing rates of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and subsequent cardiovascular disease in American Indian communities. By prioritizing vitamin D status among youth, public health practitioners can make meaningful strides toward health equity and long‑term disease prevention.

This publication is one of several articles to be featured in an upcoming special issue of Preventing Chronic Disease celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Strong Heart Study. The special issue, expected later this year, will highlight decades of research dedicated to improving cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes in American Indian communities.