High-doses of Vitamin D can potentially reduce arterial stiffness -- a major risk factor for cardiovascular-related disease and death -- in young vitamin-deficient obese adults, researchers say. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, with an estimated 17.7 million deaths in 2015, and representing 31 per cent of all global deaths.

Rigid artery walls and Vitamin D deficiency might be the potential contributors, said Yanbin Dong, geneticist and cardiologist at the Augusta University, US.