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Vitamin D and cardiovascular risk

Shweta R Motiwala1, Thomas J Wang

  • 1Cardiology Division, GRB-800, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

Current Hypertension Reports
|March 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to cardiovascular disease through various biological pathways. More research is needed to confirm if vitamin D supplements can improve heart health.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency commonly affects musculoskeletal health.
  • Emerging evidence suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Potential mechanisms include effects on hypertension, diabetes, inflammation, and cardiac remodeling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current literature on the relationship between vitamin D and cardiovascular health.
  • To explore the biological mechanisms underlying this association.
  • To identify the need for further research.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental, animal, and small interventional studies.
  • Analysis of proposed biological mechanisms linking vitamin D to CVD risk factors.
  • Evaluation of existing controlled trial results.

Main Results:

  • Experimental and animal studies suggest plausible links between vitamin D status and CVD.
  • Small interventional studies have yielded inconclusive results regarding vitamin D's cardiovascular benefits.
  • The precise role of vitamin D in cardiovascular health remains uncertain.

Conclusions:

  • The association between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease requires further investigation.
  • Current evidence from controlled trials is insufficient to establish vitamin D's role in CVD prevention or treatment.
  • Well-designed, prospective randomized controlled trials are essential to clarify the benefits of vitamin D supplementation for cardiovascular health.

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