It is common knowledge that vitamin D is good for the body. But for most of the people, when they think about the vitamin, the only source they can think of is the sun. Now the sun is all good and well, and it's free, but researchers have found a better source - vitamin D fortified yoghurt.

Research has now found that regular consumption of those sweet and tart yoghurt drinks that is enriched with vitamin D can improve cholesterol levels and, specifically those who are diabetics, can lower the risk of heart diseases.

According to Tirang R. Neyestani, one of the researchers of vitamin D-fortified yoghurt study, not having enough vitamin D affects the inner lining of blood vessels which can eventually lead to atherosclerosis, or the thickening of the artery's walls, and cardiovascular disease.

Neyestani, along with colleagues, have conducted a double-blind trial to investigate the effects of vitamin D on the glycemic status, cholesterol levels and endothelial biomarkers of diabetics. In the trial, patients were given either a plain yoghurt drink or the same drink that is fortified with vitamin D for 12 weeks, twice daily.

In considering the factors for their study, the researchers cited that the National Research Institute and Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, which had previously shown that a vitamin D-fortified yoghurt drink could improve the glycemic status of people with type-2 diabetes.

Findings in the trial show that vitamin D improved the fasting glucose, insulin, and average amount of sugar in the blood. Not only that, but the patients who took vitamin D yoghurt had improved cholesterol levels, including good cholesterol, while reducing the bad cholesterol.

Neyestani explained that these improvements in cholesterol are due to the reduction in insulin resistance.

Meanwhile, other research also suggests that vitamin D yoghurts for diabetics have other beneficial effects such as significant reduction in weight, body mass index, and waist circumference.

But when it comes down to specifics, suffice amount of vitamin D can fend off a lot of health ailments.

According to a book authored by Dr. Michael F. Holick, titled The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problems, the "sunshine vitamin" can treat, prevent, and reverse daily health ailments such as high blood pressure and back pain, can reduce symptoms of chronic problems like diabetes and arthritis, and prevent infectious diseases such as H1N1 and cancer.

The research done by Neyestani is published in BioMed Central's open access journal, BMC Journal.