Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is globally prevalent and frequently co-occurs with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
• Beyond bone metabolism, emerging evidence highlights vitamin D's role in CVD pathophysiology.
• Major cardiovascular risk factors include hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and endothelial dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current data on vitamin D deficiency's role in developing major cardiovascular risk factors.
• To summarize recent observational and interventional studies on vitamin D's influence on CVD.
• To assess the unresolved question of vitamin D deficiency's causal link to CVD pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent observational and interventional studies.
• Analysis of data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on vitamin D supplementation and cardiovascular outcomes.
• Synthesis of evidence regarding vitamin D's impact on hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, CKD, and endothelial dysfunction.

Main Results:

• Vitamin D deficiency is associated with hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and endothelial dysfunction.
• Observational and interventional data suggest a link between vitamin D status and CVD.
• RCT data specifically assessing vitamin D supplementation's effect on cardiovascular outcomes are still pending.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D deficiency is identified as an independent cardiovascular risk factor.
• The efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in improving cardiovascular outcomes remains largely undetermined.
• Further research, particularly RCTs, is needed to clarify the causal relationship and therapeutic potential.