Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease: update and outlook.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the role of vitamin D in cardiovascular health and the potential confounding effects of calcium supplementation on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Results Summary
The study found that calcium supplementation may increase the risk of CVD events, though RCTs with pure vitamin D supplementation showed inconsistent effects on cardiovascular risk factors. Observational studies linked low vitamin D levels to higher CVD risk, but evidence for general supplementation recommendations remains insufficient.
Population
Individuals with varying levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), including those at risk for cardiovascular disease.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vitamin D | neutral | cardiovascular health | - | - | may play a role | #1 |
VDR knock-out | increase | cardiovascular disease (CVD) | mice | - | suffer from | #2 |
selective VDR deletion | increase | myocardial hypertrophy | cardiomyocytes | - | causes | #3 |
vitamin D deficiency | increase | CVD and its risk factors | - | - | is associated with | #4 |
Low concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) | increase | cardiovascular events, in particular for strokes and sudden cardiac deaths | - | - | are an independent risk factor for | #5 |
calcium | increase | CVD events | - | - | may increase the risk of | #6 |
pure vitamin D supplementation | decrease | cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension | - | - | have partially but not consistently shown beneficial effects on | #7 |
vitamin D supplementation | increase | musculoskeletal health | - | - | benefits | #8 |
Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin D may play a role for cardiovascular health. Expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and enzymes for vitamin D metabolism have been identified in the vasculature as well as in the heart. VDR knock-out mice suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and even selective VDR deletion in cardiomyocytes causes myocardial hypertrophy. Many, but not all observational studies showed that vitamin D deficiency is associated with CVD and its risk factors. Low concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events, in particular for strokes and sudden cardiac deaths. Only few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are available on this topic. These RCTs are frequently limited by the additional supplementation of calcium which may increase the risk of CVD events. RCTs with pure vitamin D supplementation have partially but not consistently shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension. A number of large RCTs on the impact of vitamin D supplementation on cardiovascular events and mortality have already started but limitations of the study designs such as inclusion of individuals with relatively high 25(OH)D concentrations have to be considered. At present, the evidence is not sufficient for general recommendations to supplement vitamin D in order to prevent and treat CVD. It should, however, be noted that justification for the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency comes from evidence based benefits of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health.