Related Experiment Videos
Vitamin D and ischaemic heart disease
Insights
This study found no link between vitamin D levels and ischemic heart disease risk. Researchers observed no significant differences in 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol (25-HCC) levels between heart patients and healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Vitamin D has been investigated as a potential risk factor for ischemic heart disease.
- The role of vitamin D metabolites in cardiovascular health requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between serum levels of 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol (25-HCC), the major circulating vitamin D metabolite, and ischemic heart disease.
- To compare 25-HCC levels in patients with myocardial infarction and angina pectoris to those in normal individuals.
Main Methods:
- Serum 25-HCC levels were measured in patients with acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and in a control group of normal persons.
- Levels were assessed during the initial days of myocardial infarction and compared across groups.
- Correlations with serum cholesterol, glycerides, calcium, and magnesium were examined.
Main Results:
- Serum 25-HCC levels did not fluctuate significantly in the first four days following acute myocardial infarction.
- No significant differences were found in serum 25-HCC levels between patients with myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and normal individuals.
- Serum calcium and magnesium were low in all patients, with calcium decreasing further during acute myocardial infarction and parathyroid hormone increasing.
Conclusions:
- Patients with ischemic heart disease do not appear to ingest or produce elevated amounts of vitamin D.
- The observed low calcium and magnesium levels in heart patients warrant further investigation.
- Vitamin D status, as indicated by 25-HCC levels, is unlikely to be a primary risk factor for ischemic heart disease in this cohort.
Abstract:
Vitamin D has been proposed as a risk factor of ischaemic heart disease. In 12 patients with acute myocardial infarction the major circulating vitamin D metabolite, 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol (25-HCC), did not show any fluctuations during the first 4 days after onset of symptoms. The serum 25-HCC level was then measured in 128 patients consecutively admitted because of chest pain, 53 of whom had myocardial infarction and 75 had angina pectoris. The values found did not differ from those measured in 409 normal persons. The seasonal variations of serum 25-HCC were less pronounced in heart patients than in normals, probably due to less sun exposure in the summer months. The levels of serum 25-HCC did not correlate with the concentrations of serum cholesterol, glycerides, calcium or magnesium. Low serum calcium and magnesium were observed in all patients. Serum calcium was further reduced in the course of acute myocardial infarctions while serum parathyroid hormone rose significantly. We conclude that patients with ischaemic heart disease are not ingesting or producing in their skin elevated amount of vitamin D.