This pill can add years to your life

September 11, 2007 14:54 IST

Vitamin D is definitely good for health, doctors have said for years, but a new study has revealed that taking a pill of the organic compound everyday could help you live longer.

Scientists in Europe came to the conclusion after they recently carried out a study on 57,000 people, the results of which have been published in Archives of Internal Medicine journal on Tuesday.



'The intake of ordinary doses of Vitamin D supplements seems to be associated with decreases in total mortality rates. Interventions effectively strengthening Vit D status should result in reduced total mortality,' they reported.

In their research, the scientists analysed the results of Vit D supplements taken by 57,000 people during 18 separate trials and found that those who took pills regularly were less likely to die over the six-year period.

Most of the participants in the trial were 'frail' elders with low blood levels of Vitamin D, the scientists -- Philippe Autier from International Agency of Research on Cancer in Lyon (France [ Images ] ) and Sara Gandini from the European Institute of Oncology in Milan (Italy [ Images ] ) wrote.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble compound which acts like a hormone, regulating the formation of bone and absorption of calcium and phosphorous from the intestine. It also helps to control the movement of calcium between bone and blood and vice-versa.

The vitamin is produced naturally in the body through exposure to sunlight and is also found in salmon, tuna and other oily fish, and routinely added to milk.