Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University said that PAD is a common disease that occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed by fatty deposits, causing pain and numbness and impairing the ability to walk.

Lead author Dr. Michal Melamed of Albert Einstein College and colleagues analyzed data from a national survey measuring vitamin D levels in the blood of 4,839 U.S. adults.

The survey tested these people using the ankle-brachial index, a screening tool for PAD that measures blood flow to the legs. Also measured were other risk factors for PAD such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure and presence of diabetes.

The study found that higher levels of vitamin D were associated with a lower prevalence of PAD. Among individuals with the highest vitamin D levels -- more than 29.2 nanogram per milliliter (ng/mL) -- 3.7 percent had PAD. Among those with the lowest vitamin D levels -- less than 17.8 ng/mL -- 8.1 percent had PAD.

The findings are being reported at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology annual conference in Atlanta.