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Hypothesis: etiology of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis: are imbalances in the calciferol endocrine system
1Bioenergetics Research Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
Insights
Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis, previously thought unrelated, may be linked by chronic vitamin D excess. This excess, along with magnesium deficiency and high cholesterol, may contribute to both bone and arterial calcification.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Nutritional Science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Osteoporosis (bone calcium loss) and atherosclerosis (arterial calcification) affect aging populations.
- These conditions are often considered distinct, affecting different demographics.
- Calcium homeostasis is crucial for both bone health and arterial integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential relationship between atherosclerosis and osteoporosis.
- To explore the role of vitamin D in the etiology of both diseases.
- To identify contributing factors that exacerbate adverse effects.
Main Methods:
- Observational analysis of disease prevalence and risk factors.
- Review of existing literature on calcium homeostasis and vitamin D.
- Consideration of factors like magnesium deficiency, nicotine, and dietary cholesterol.
Main Results:
- Increased atherosclerosis incidence observed in women with progressing osteoporosis.
- Coincidence of epidemic onsets of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis with increased vitamin D supplementation.
- Experimental evidence suggests excess vitamin D induces both conditions in humans and animals.
Conclusions:
- Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis may be more closely related than previously understood.
- Chronic vitamin D excess is a potential contributing factor to both conditions.
- Magnesium deficiency, nicotine, and high dietary cholesterol can worsen the adverse effects of excess vitamin D.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are currently considered unrelated diseases. Osteoporosis involves bone calcium (Ca) loss and predominantly affects females after menopause. Atherosclerosis is an illness predominantly affecting males, and is primarily characterized by abnormal lipid metabolism. However, pathological calcification of the arterial wall is an underlying feature of atherosclerosis. Ca homeostasis is thus important in atherosclerosis as well as in osteoporosis. Men also develop osteoporosis although at a later age than women, and, as osteoporosis progresses in women, there is an accompanying calcification of arteries leading to increased incidence of atherosclerosis in aging women. Thus, during old age, both atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are prevalent in both males and females. The dramatic increase in atherosclerosis among women as they develop osteoporosis suggests that the two illnesses may be more closely related than previously realized. The use of vitamin D as a food supplement coincides with epidemic onsets of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis, and excess vitamin D induces both conditions in humans and laboratory animals. These observations suggest a role for chronic vitamin D excess in the etiology of the two illnesses. Magnesium (Mg) deficiency, nicotine, and high dietary cholesterol are contributing factors that accentuate adverse effects of vitamin D.