Cardiovascular disease is treated by vitamin D, unsure if low Vit D can predict Cardio

Vitamin D in Cardiovascular Disease

In Vivo September-October 2018 vol. 32 no. 5 977-981, 10.21873/invivo.11338

ALKIPPI NITSA1,2, MARINA TOUTOUZA2, NIKOLAOS MACHAIRAS1, ANARGYROS MARIOLIS3, ANASTASSIOS PHILIPPOU1 and MICHAEL KOUTSILIERIS1 mkoutsil@med.uoa.gr

1 Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

2 Biochemistry & Microbiology Laboratory, Hipokrateion Hospital, Athens, Greece

3 Health Center, National Health System, Areopolis, Greece

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Cardiovascular disease is the prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, affecting many millions of individuals every year. Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory condition that involves different cell types, several cytokines and adhesion molecules, is the underlying cause of cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D is known to control skeletal patho/physiology, regulating calcium and phosphorus and bone remodeling along with other calcium-regulating hormones. However, several active metabolites of vitamin D can exert both direct action, mainly via vitamin D3 receptor trans-activation and indirect actions on several other tissues by an endocrine, autocrine and paracrine manners. With regard to cardiovascular disease, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with activation of the pro-inflammatory mechanism, promoting atherogenesis. There are several large-scale clinical studies, as well as meta-analyses that support this finding.

However, it is still unclear whether the plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D level can be used as a biomarker for future cardiovascular disease. Herein we review the studies reporting a causative role for vitamin D in cardiovascular disease.