Vitamin D3 as a Hormone - The Role in the Development of Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Vitamin D3 deficiency is common worldwide (Holick, 2006) (1). For example, vitamin D3 deficiency was 77% in the US population (Ginde et al., 2009) (2). According to our data, vitamin D3 deficiency was found in 80% of CHD patients (3). Ecological studies have shown a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease with increasing distance from the equator, suggesting an association with vitamin D insufficiency in regions with less sun exposure (4). Low 25(OH)D concentrations may increase the risk of hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, obesity, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and cardiac mortality (4,5,6,7), low 25(OH)D levels are associated with endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, increased vascular stiffness and arterial calcification (8).