Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a potential risk factor for many diseases not traditionally associated with vitamin D, such as cancer and CVD. This review discusses the evidence suggesting an association between low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and CVD and the possible mechanisms mediating it. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with CVD risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis such as intima-media thickness and coronary calcification as well as with cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke as well as congestive heart failure. It could be suggested that vitamin D deficiency contributes to the development of CVD through its association with risk factors, such as diabetes and hypertension. However, direct effects of vitamin D on the cardiovascular system may also be involved. Vitamin D receptors are expressed in a variety of tissues, including cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells and vitamin D has been shown to affect inflammation and cell proliferation and differentiation. While much evidence supports a potential antiatherosclerotic effect of vitamin D, prospective, placebo-controlled randomized as well as mechanistic studies are needed to confirm this association. Since vitamin D deficiency is easy to screen for and treat, the confirmation of such an association could have important implications for both, patient care and health policy.
Keywords: Vitamin D, cholecalciferol, coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure
Current Vascular Pharmacology
Title: Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease
Volume: 7 Issue: 3
Author(s): Ioanna Gouni-Berthold, Wilhelm Krone and Heiner K. Berthold
Affiliation:
Keywords: Vitamin D, cholecalciferol, coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure
Abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a potential risk factor for many diseases not traditionally associated with vitamin D, such as cancer and CVD. This review discusses the evidence suggesting an association between low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and CVD and the possible mechanisms mediating it. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with CVD risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis such as intima-media thickness and coronary calcification as well as with cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke as well as congestive heart failure. It could be suggested that vitamin D deficiency contributes to the development of CVD through its association with risk factors, such as diabetes and hypertension. However, direct effects of vitamin D on the cardiovascular system may also be involved. Vitamin D receptors are expressed in a variety of tissues, including cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells and vitamin D has been shown to affect inflammation and cell proliferation and differentiation. While much evidence supports a potential antiatherosclerotic effect of vitamin D, prospective, placebo-controlled randomized as well as mechanistic studies are needed to confirm this association. Since vitamin D deficiency is easy to screen for and treat, the confirmation of such an association could have important implications for both, patient care and health policy.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Gouni-Berthold Ioanna, Krone Wilhelm and Berthold K. Heiner, Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2009; 7 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016109788340686
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016109788340686 |
Print ISSN 1570-1611 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6212 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Ischemic Cardiovascular Diseases: Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Therapy
Ischemic cardiovascular disease includes myocardial infarction, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, angina pectoris, etc., constitute the leading cause of patient mortality by preventing tissues from getting sufficient oxygen and nutrients. Ischemic heart disease, as a clinical condition, is characterized by myocardial ischemia, causing an imbalance between myocardial blood supply and demand, ...read more
TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN CHRONIC AND END STAGE KIDNEY DISEASE
Cardiovascular disease still remains the leading cause of death in Chronic and End Stage Kidney Disease, accounting for more than half of all deaths in dialysis patients. During the past decade, research has been focused on novel therapeutic agents that might delay or even reverse cardiovascular disease and vascular calcification, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Perspectives of Choroidal Neovascularization Therapy
Current Drug Targets Effect of Diabetes on The Blood Brain Barrier
Current Pharmaceutical Design Purines as Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators in Blood Vessels
Current Vascular Pharmacology Controversial Issues of Abortion License According to Religious and Jurisprudential Laws in Iran: A Systematic Review
Current Women`s Health Reviews Vasomotor Effects of Iodinated Contrast Media: Just Side Effects?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Enzymatic regulation and functional relevance of NOX5
Current Pharmaceutical Design Melatonin and Synthetic Melatoninergic Agonists in Psychiatric and Age-associated Disorders: Successful and Unsuccessful Approaches
Current Pharmaceutical Design Lipid Management and Peripheral Arterial Disease
Current Drug Targets Atrial Fibrillation: The Emerging Role of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets COX-2: Friend or Foe?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Beneficial Role of Vitexin and Isovitexin Flavonoids in the Vascular Endothelium and Cardiovascular System
Current Nutraceuticals Rosuvastatin Induced Rhabdomyolysis in a Low Risk Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Current Clinical Pharmacology Chemical and Medicinal Versatility of Substituted 1,4-Dihydropyridines
Current Bioactive Compounds The Role of Coronary Physiology in Contemporary Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
Current Cardiology Reviews Editorial (Hot Topic: New Insights into Insulin Resistance, Cardiovascular Diseases and Oxidative Stress: Pathophysiological and Clinical Consequences)
Current Pharmaceutical Design Updated Electrocardiographic Classification of Acute Coronary Syndromes
Current Cardiology Reviews Structure Based Drug Design of Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cardioprotective effects of Aronia melanocarpa anthocynanins. From laboratory experiments to clinical practice.
Current Pharmaceutical Design <i>In silico</i> Approach for Exploring the Role of AT1R Polymorphism on its Function, Structure and Drug Interactions
Current Computer-Aided Drug Design Donepezil May Reduce Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) Levels in Alzheimer’s disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets