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Vitamin D deficiency may be an independent risk factor for arterial disease

K M van de Luijtgaarden1, M T Voûte, S E Hoeks

  • 1Department of Vascular Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery : the Official Journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery
|July 31, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Low vitamin D levels are common in patients with arterial disease. This deficiency is linked to atherosclerosis markers like higher CIMT, lower ABI, and increased hs-CRP, independent of other risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency is a global health concern.
  • Arterial diseases, including peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and aortic aneurysms, represent significant cardiovascular risks.
  • The relationship between vitamin D status and arterial disease markers requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate vitamin D status in patients with occlusive or aneurysmatic arterial disease.
  • To correlate vitamin D levels with cardiovascular risk profiles and atherosclerotic disease markers.
  • To determine if associations persist independently of traditional risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 490 patients with symptomatic PAD or aortic aneurysm was studied.
  • Cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), ankle-brachial index (ABI), hs-CRP, and serum vitamin D were assessed.
  • Patients were categorized based on vitamin D levels: deficient, insufficient, or sufficient.

Main Results:

  • 45% of patients exhibited moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency.
  • Low vitamin D levels were associated with congestive heart failure and cerebrovascular disease.
  • Low vitamin D status correlated with higher CIMT, lower ABI, and elevated hs-CRP, even after adjusting for risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • A significant association exists between low vitamin D status and arterial disease.
  • This link is independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
  • The association holds true for both occlusive and aneurysmatic arterial diseases.
Abstract

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