Vitamin D and its effects on cardiovascular diseases: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Vitamin D is a molecule that is actively involved in multiple metabolic pathways. It is mostly known for its implications related to calcium metabolism. It has also been determined that it actively participates in the cardiovascular system, influencing blood pressure, coronary artery disease and other vascular diseases, such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, it has been established that this vitamin is extensively involved in the regulation of both the renin angiotensin aldosterone system and the immune system. In this review, we present the different vitamin D metabolic pathways associated with the cardiovascular pathophysiology, and we include studies in animal and human models, as well as some of the controversies found in the literature. This review also incorporates an overview of the implications in the molecular biology and public health fields.

Effect of Plasma Level of Vitamin D on Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

“…Deficiency of vitamin D may cause a number of diseases. Some of these diseases include type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hypertension, and some cardiovascular disease [4] . Several pathophysiological mechanisms were suggested for the association between vitamin D deficiency and atrial fibrillation (AF).…”

Deficiencia de vitamina D y su asociación con enfermedad arterial coronaria en población mexicana: estudio Genético de la Enfermedad Aterosclerosa

“…Estos resultados contrastan con estudios que han mostrado que los valores bajos de VD se asocian a un estado inflamatorio sistémico, favorecen la resistencia a la insulina y activan el sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterona, con la subsecuente elevación de la presión arterial y la hipertrofia del músculo cardiaco y de las células musculares lisas [28][29][30] . En concordancia con estos hallazgos, varios estudios observacionales han reportado una asociación entre la deficiencia de 25(OH)D y la presencia de EAC clínica 13,31-33 y subclínica [34][35][36][37][38] .…”

Dairy Food Intake and All-Cause, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer Mortality

“…Health benefits of dairy foods in nonobese individuals could be explained by the fact that obesity, one of the leading causes of death, may attenuate the advantage of dairy products in increasing life expectancy or delaying death in persons with higher BMI. Milk fortified with vitamin D, which is consumed in some countries, may have additional cardioprotective benefits (6). Notably, because dairy foods are not fortified with vitamin D in Iran, the cardioprotective influence of dairy products would be independent of vitamin D.…”