Vitamin D supplements and prevention of cardiovascular disease

The role of vitamin D supplementation for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes has been rigorously studied only recently. This review briefly summarizes results from recent randomized controlled trials in the context of prior laboratory and epidemiologic data.

Randomized trials of vitamin D that included CVD outcomes, as well as two recently published large population-based trials that prespecified CVD as a primary endpoint (The Vitamin D Assessmentand The VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL), indicate that vitamin D supplementation does not decrease CVD incidence, when compared with placebo.

Evidence to date suggests that vitamin D supplementation in the general community does not reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events. Other trials are ongoing and future studies will explore additional CVD outcomes such as heart failure and assess high-risk populations such as those with chronic kidney disease.