Relation of Vitamin D Status to Congestive Heart Failure and Cardiovascular Events in Dogs

Abstract

BackgroundVitamin D plays a pivotal role in cardiac function, and there is increasing evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development of congestive heart failure (CHF) in people.HypothesisSerum vitamin D concentration is lower in dogs with CHF compared with unaffected controls and serum vitamin D concentration is associated with clinical outcome in dogs with CHF.AnimalsEighty‐two client‐owned dogs.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, we examined the association between circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], a measure of vitamin D status, and CHF in dogs. In the prospective cohort study, we examined whether 25(OH)D serum concentration was associated with clinical outcome in dogs with CHF.ResultsMean 25(OH)D concentration (100 ± 44 nmol/L) in 31 dogs with CHF was significantly lower than that of 51 unaffected dogs (123 ± 42 nmol/L; P = .023). The mean calculated vitamin D intake per kg of metabolic body weight in dogs with CHF was no different from that of unaffected dogs (1.37 ± 0.90 μg/kg metabolic body weight versus 0.98 ± 0.59 μg/kg body weight, respectively, P = .097). There was a significant association of serum 25(OH)D concentration on time to clinical manifestation of CHF or sudden death (P = .02).Conclusion and Clinical RelevanceThese findings suggest that low concentrations of 25(OH)D may be a risk factor for CHF in dogs. Low serum 25(OH)D concentration was associated with poor outcome in dogs with CHF. Strategies to improve vitamin D status in some dogs with CHF may prove beneficial without causing toxicity.

Vitamin D Status in Different Stages of Disease Severity in Dogs with Chronic Valvular Heart Disease

“…Secondly, vitamin D metabolism was not investigated, and the mechanisms involved in the decrease in serum 25(OH)D concentrations (eg, decreased intake, hepatic synthetic dysfunction, renal loss) were not determined 23. In particular, the vitamin D intake in enrolled dogs was not determined, although the calculated vitamin D intake in dogs with congestive heart failure was not significantly different from that of healthy dogs in a previous study 10. Thirdly, the definition and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in dogs with CVHD remain unclear.…”

“…Diagnostic criteria for CVHD were the combination of the presence of mitral valve prolapse, any degree of mitral valve leaflet thickening by 2‐dimensional echocardiography, and identification of any degree of mitral valve regurgitation by color Doppler examination, with or without mitral valve thickening 12. Dogs were excluded if they had congenital heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, or concurrent disorders known to be associated with vitamin D metabolism, including hepatic insufficiency, protein‐losing nephropathy or enteropathy, endocrine disorders, systemic hypertension, or clinically relevant systemic disease 1, 10. Dogs with renal insufficiency that developed after the initiation of cardiovascular medications were not excluded.…”

“…In veterinary medicine, a recent study showed that the serum 25(OH)D concentration is lower in dogs with congestive heart failure caused by chronic valvular heart disease (CVHD) or dilated cardiomyopathy than in normal dogs, and that the low concentration is associated with poorer outcome in dogs with heart failure 10. In that study, however, asymptomatic CVHD dogs were not enrolled, and therefore it is still unknown when vitamin D status changes in various stages of disease severity.…”

Beyond the skeleton: the role of vitamin D in companion animal health

“…Mean 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly lower in dogs with congestive heart failure compared to unaffected dogs although, importantly, mean calculated vitamin D intake per kg of metabolic body weight in dogs with congestive heart failure was not significantly different from that of unaffected dogs (Kraus et al . ). Another study demonstrated that median 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly lower in dogs with chronic valvular heart disease stage B2 and C/D disease than dogs with stage B1 disease (Osuga et al .…”

Vitamin D metabolism in dogs and cats and its relation to diseases not associated with bone metabolism

“…In the first study conducted by Kraus et al (2014), significantly lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations in dogs with CHF compared to healthy dogs were observed. In the first study conducted by Kraus et al (2014), significantly lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations in dogs with CHF compared to healthy dogs were observed.…”