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Vitamin D and Heart Failure

D Marshall Brinkley1, Omair M Ali1, Sandip K Zalawadiya1

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2220 Pierce Avenue; Preston Research Building, Suite 383, Nashville, TN, 37232-6300, USA.

Current Heart Failure Reports
|August 16, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Low vitamin D status is linked to heart failure risk and outcomes. However, current evidence is insufficient to recommend vitamin D supplementation for preventing or treating chronic heart failure.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin D is crucial for calcium homeostasis.
  • Preclinical studies suggest vitamin D influences cardiovascular function and heart failure risk.
  • Many individuals with cardiovascular disease exhibit low vitamin D levels, presenting a potential therapeutic target.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the rationale for vitamin D supplementation in heart failure.
  • To explore the potential role of vitamin D in preventing and treating chronic heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical studies.
  • Analysis of observational evidence linking vitamin D status to heart failure.
  • Evaluation of existing clinical trials on vitamin D supplementation in heart failure.

Main Results:

  • Observational studies associate low vitamin D with increased heart failure risk, ventricular remodeling, and mortality.
  • Clinical trials on vitamin D supplementation for heart failure have been small and inconclusive.
  • Insufficient data exists to support routine vitamin D assessment or supplementation for heart failure.

Conclusions:

  • While observational data is compelling, clinical trial evidence is lacking.
  • Further large-scale, prospective trials powered for clinical outcomes are necessary.
  • Current evidence does not support routine vitamin D supplementation for heart failure prevention or treatment.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseaseHeart failureOutcomesVitamin D

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