Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease: A Novel Agent for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk?

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is a well-established risk factor for bone disease. Emerging data suggest a pleiotropic role of this agent in a variety of functions in humans. Epidemiological studies indicate an inverse association between vitamin D deficiency and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as individual cardiometabolic risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and the metabolic syndrome. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the atherosclerotic process. This review considers current data regarding the role of vitamin D deficiency in the development of CVD and addresses the effect of supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes.

Peripheral Plasma Vitamin D and Non-HDL Cholesterol Reflect the Severity of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Disease

“…Our results are consistent with previous reports showing an influence of vitamin D level deficiency on chronic inflammatory, vascular and brain diseases [17]. Vitamin D is known to play a pivotal role in immunomodulation by regulating proinflammatory cells and the production of inflammatory cytokines, both of which are crucial steps in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases [15].…”

“…Indeed, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), identified as potentially disease-modifying by using unbiased target-agnostic screening, was subsequently shown to decrease CCM lesion burden in a murine model of CCM, and to inhibit ROCK activity, known to affect CCM development [16]. Plasma vitamin D level has been associated with a favorable lipid profile related to inflammation and cardiovascular diseases [17], while an inverse association of vitamin D level with CRP has also been reported [15]. Thus, we hypothesize that these biomarkers would reflect the severity of CCM disease over time or with recent clinical behavior.…”

Vitamin D Deficiency to Ill Health Essay

“…Considering the high prevalence of vitamin deficiency and the growing body of evidences that links it to diseases, it may be sufficient to form a basis for population wide intervention. Since vitamin D is mainly and easily acquired through the skin under exposure to UVb sunlight, such recommendation may yet be another reason for an active and health lifestyle [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29].…”

Vitamin D deficiency, statin-related myopathy and other links with vascular risk

“…Better detection and awareness of this deficiency may also be relevant in clinical practice but would not explain all the epidemiological findings 1,[6][7][8] . Vitamin D supplementation seems to be clinically relevant because of links with vascular risk factors 9 . For example, vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes [10][11][12][13][14] , at least in some studies 15 .…”