Relations of circulating vitamin D concentrations with left ventricular geometry and function

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
• Associations between vitamin D and subclinical CVD are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between vitamin D levels and left ventricular (LV) geometry and function.
• To assess these associations cross-sectionally and longitudinally in an elderly community-based cohort.

Main Methods:

• The study included 870 participants (age 70) from the PIVUS study.
• Serum 25-dihydroxyvitamin-D (25-OH D) and echocardiographic parameters were measured at baseline and after 5 years.
• Statistical analyses adjusted for potential confounders.

Main Results:

• Higher baseline 25-OH D was associated with smaller LV end-systolic diameter (LVESD), greater fractional shortening, and higher ejection fraction.
• These associations remained significant after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and other biomarkers.
• No significant association was found between baseline vitamin D and changes in LV geometry or function over 5 years.

Conclusions:

• In elderly individuals, higher vitamin D concentrations are cross-sectionally associated with better LV systolic function and smaller LVESD.
• Further research, including randomized clinical trials, is needed to confirm causality.
• The findings highlight a potential link between vitamin D status and subclinical cardiac function in older adults.