Vitamin D and the vasculature: can we teach an old drug new tricks?

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D is a steroid hormone known for its role in regulating levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D has important autocrine/paracrine roles and it is involved in vascular biology. Clinical studies have shown a relationship between vitamin D levels and cardiovascular health, and low levels of vitamin D metabolites have been associated with higher incidence of congestive heart failure and increases in mortality. Objective: To summarise the effect of vitamin D on cardiovascular pathology, the leading cause of death in chronic kidney disease patients. Conclusions: All results indicate a potential effect of vitamin D on cardiovascular health. Therefore, maintaining optimum levels of circulating vitamin D is critical for a healthy cardiovascular system. In patients with low vitamin D status, like renal patients, supplementation with vitamin D metabolites has shown beneficial cardiovascular effects.

Keywords::

• arterial calcification
• atherosclerosis
• cardiovascular disease
• hypertension
• paricalcitol
• vitamin D