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Updated: Jun 24, 2025
Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
Vitamin D and Atherosclerosis: Unraveling the Impact on Macrophage Function
Dongxia Wang1, Zhen Sun2, Yajuan Yin2
1Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China.
Insights
Vitamin D significantly impacts atherosclerosis by regulating macrophage function. It inhibits monocyte recruitment and cholesterol uptake, promoting anti-atherosclerotic effects.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a major cause of cardiovascular disease.
- Macrophage dysfunction is central to atherosclerotic plaque development.
- Vitamin D's role in cardiovascular health is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review clinical evidence on vitamin D's impact on atherosclerotic diseases.
- To explore mechanisms of vitamin D's influence on macrophage function in atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of clinical and mechanistic studies.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Vitamin D inhibits monocyte/macrophage recruitment and cholesterol uptake.
- It promotes macrophage autophagy, cholesterol efflux, and regulates polarization.
- Vitamin D directly inhibits lipid-laden monocyte formation, adhesion, and migration.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D plays a crucial role in preventing atherosclerosis.
- It exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects by modulating macrophage function.
- Targeting vitamin D may offer therapeutic strategies for atherosclerotic diseases.
Abstract:
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in preventing atherosclerosis and in the regulation of macrophage function. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the clinical evidence regarding the impact of vitamin D on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, and associated risk factors. Additionally, it explores the mechanistic studies investigating the influence of vitamin D on macrophage function in atherosclerosis. Numerous findings indicate that vitamin D inhibits monocyte or macrophage recruitment, macrophage cholesterol uptake, and esterification. Moreover, it induces autophagy of lipid droplets in macrophages, promotes cholesterol efflux from macrophages, and regulates macrophage polarization. This review particularly focuses on analyzing the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways through which vitamin D modulates macrophage function in atherosclerosis. It claims that vitamin D has a direct inhibitory effect on the formation, adhesion, and migration of lipid-loaded monocytes, thus exerting anti-atherosclerotic effects. Therefore, this review emphasizes the crucial role of vitamin D in regulating macrophage function and preventing the development of atherosclerosis.
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