JANUARY 20, 2014 BY CHRISTOPHER MASTERJOHN
Article Summary
• Between 1928 and 1945, Weston Price measured the fat-soluble vitamin content of over twenty thousand samples of butterfat from many different regions. He found that abundant sunshine and rainfall, together with high-quality soil, was associated with high concentrations of vitamins within the butter and fewer deaths from heart disease.
• Modern science has shown that vitamins A, D, and K cooperate to prevent the calcification of arterial plaque, which in turn prevents heart disease. This confirms Price’s conclusions that fat-soluble vitamins protect against heart disease.
• We can maximize our fat-soluble vitamin status by consuming a diet rich in organ meats, animal fats, fatty fish, cod liver oil, and fermented foods, supplemented with leafy greens and other colorful vegetables; by spending lots of time out in the fresh air and sunshine; and by using traditional fats and oils while avoiding modern vegetable oils.
• Vitamin D can be a double-edged sword: adequate vitamin D prevents heart disease, but too much vitamin D promotes heart disease. The available evidence suggests that the lowest risk of heart disease occurs when vitamin D status is between 20 and 40 ng/mL.
• Trying to determine optimal vitamin D status is very problematic. Rather than trying to achieve an optimal vitamin D status with vitamin D supplementation, most people should focus more on optimizing the nutrient density and nutrient balance of the diet.