A new research has revealed that the darker skin of blacks could put them at a potentially high risk of heart problems and strokes as their skin color reduces the production of Vitamin D, which is produced by the automatically when one is exposed to sunlight.

Various studied have revealed before how low levels of Vitamin D lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, and the "biggest source of vitamin D levels is sunlight", said co-author of the recently published paper Dr. Kevin Fiscella, a professor of family medicine and community and preventive medicine at the University of Rochester. "People with dark skin who live at higher latitudes, where the intensity of sunlight is less, may be at greater risk", he stressed.

The findings, however, have been surrounded by various questions, which are unanswered; for starters, confusions prevail as to whether or not there are any strong links between low Vitamin D levels and heart troubles.

"We don't truly know the answer. That is the really pivotal question, what happens to cardiovascular risk if you correct blood levels of vitamin D. We do know that small supplements for middle- aged people don't seem to have any effect", said Professor Fiscella.

The details have been published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.