Putting cardiovascular disease and vitamin D insufficiency into perspective

Abstract

The aetiology of CVD is still not completely understood. The present review article summarises data supporting the hypothesis that an insufficient vitamin D status may contribute to the worldwide high prevalence of CVD. Human vitamin D status primarily depends on skin exposure to the UVB spectrum of the sunlight. Epidemiological data indicate that geographic latitude, altitude, season, and the place of residence (urban or rural) are associated with CVD mortality. Interestingly, all these factors also have an influence on human UVB exposure and thus on vitamin D status. Several mechanisms might be responsible for a protective role of vitamin D in CVD. These mechanisms include the inhibition of vascular smooth muscle proliferation, the suppression of vascular calcification, the down regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the up regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and the action of vitamin D as a negative endocrine regulator of the renin-angiotensin system. The first intervention trials indicate that vitamin D may suppress cardiovascular risk markers. However, more controlled clinical trials are needed to investigate whether optimal oral vitamin D supplementation is able to reduce CVD morbidity and mortality.

Association of Serum Vitamin D Level and Serum Lipids Profile

“…Calcitriol is one of the most important regulators of the calcium metabolism and serum calcium homeostasis. Also, it acts as the cytokine excretion and intra-cellular calcium metabolism regulator [10][11][12]. Serum lipid levels have also an important role in the calcium metabolism.…”

“…Serum level of 25 (OH) D is a significant factor showing the vitamin D reservoir of the body [10]. Receptor of vitamin D3 (calcitriol) exists in many of the cells including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, neurons, and immunological cells [10,11]. Calcitriol is one of the most important regulators of the calcium metabolism and serum calcium homeostasis.…”

Vitamin D and neurocognitive dysfunction: Preventing “D”ecline?

“…Ischemic brain injury is the third leading cause of death in the United States; over 50% of survivors have resultant neurologic disorders and require chronic care (Roman 2003). In addition to this, cerebrovascular disease may lead to cognitive dysfunction even in the absence of stroke (Geldmacher and Whitehouse 1997;Skoog 2000;Kuller, Lopez et al 2003;Zittermann, Schleithoff et al 2005).…”

“…In addition to these vasculoprotective benefits, vitamin D may play a role in protection against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease secondary to benefits that extend beyond those mentioned above (Zittermann, Schleithoff et al 2005;Zittermann 2006;. Therapeutic intervention with vitamin D regulates blood pressure (Lind, Wengle et al 1989;Pfeifer, Begerow et al 2001), cardiac hypertrophy (O'Connell, Berry et al 1997), and plasma rennin activity (Burgess, Hawkins et al 1990;Li, Kong et al 2002).…”

Epidemiology of vitamin D in health and disease

“…The mechanisms of the protective role of vitamin D in CVD are proposed to be inhibition of vascular smooth muscle Vitamin D in health and diseaseproliferation, suppression of vascular calcification, downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and the action of vitamin D as a negative endocrine regulator of the renin -angiotensin system (85) .…”