New research published in the British Medical Journal adds credibility to the theory that having low vitamin D levels is a cause of higher death risk, the New York Times reports. Observational studies have previously identified the correlation between low vitamin D and increased death risk, but the Mendelian randomization format of the current study points to causation rather than just correlation.

“By studying two large populations, of which one has the genetic variant for low vitamin D and the other does not, researchers were able to virtually eliminate the impact of confounding factors like other diseases, habits and behaviors that might be contributing to poor health,” Nicholas Bakalar wrote in the New York Times blog post.

The study of nearly 100,000 participants found that having genes associated with lifelong low vitamin D levels increases overall death risk by 30 percent and risk of death from cancer by 40 percent. Along with elimating the impact of coufounding factors, Mendelian randomization also provides the advantages of incorporating lifetime exposure to vitamin D and all sources of vitamin D, whereas randomized control trials deal with only supplementation over a limited time period.

Click here for coverage from the New York Times.

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