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Published on: December 9, 2015
Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease
Ioanna Gouni-Berthold1, Wilhelm Krone, Heiner K Berthold
1Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Cologne, D-50937 Cologne, Germany. ioanna.berthold@uni-koeln.de
Insights
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors like hypertension and diabetes. Further research is needed, but addressing vitamin D levels may improve patient care and public health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of illness and death.
- Emerging evidence suggests vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for conditions beyond its traditional associations, including cancer and CVD.
- Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are increasingly recognized as a potential contributor to cardiovascular health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing evidence linking low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- To explore the potential mechanisms through which vitamin D deficiency might influence cardiovascular health.
- To highlight the implications for patient care and public health policy if this association is confirmed.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies examining the association between vitamin D levels and CVD.
- Analysis of evidence connecting vitamin D deficiency to established CVD risk factors (hypertension, diabetes).
- Examination of studies correlating vitamin D status with markers of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.
Main Results:
- Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk factors for CVD, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
- Low vitamin D levels correlate with subclinical atherosclerosis markers like intima-media thickness and coronary calcification.
- Associations have been observed between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to CVD development through its links with risk factors like diabetes and hypertension.
- Direct effects of vitamin D on the cardiovascular system, involving receptors in cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle, and endothelial cells, are plausible.
- While evidence suggests a potential antiatherosclerotic role for vitamin D, further prospective, randomized, and mechanistic studies are essential to confirm the association and guide clinical practice and health policy.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a potential risk factor for many diseases not traditionally associated with vitamin D, such as cancer and CVD. This review discusses the evidence suggesting an association between low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and CVD and the possible mechanisms mediating it. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with CVD risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis such as intima-media thickness and coronary calcification as well as with cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke as well as congestive heart failure. It could be suggested that vitamin D deficiency contributes to the development of CVD through its association with risk factors, such as diabetes and hypertension. However, direct effects of vitamin D on the cardiovascular system may also be involved. Vitamin D receptors are expressed in a variety of tissues, including cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells and vitamin D has been shown to affect inflammation and cell proliferation and differentiation. While much evidence supports a potential antiatherosclerotic effect of vitamin D, prospective, placebo-controlled randomized as well as mechanistic studies are needed to confirm this association. Since vitamin D deficiency is easy to screen for and treat, the confirmation of such an association could have important implications for both, patient care and health policy.
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